You are not authorized to access this page.

Most Damaging Tsunamis

  • Lisbon Earthquake (Portugal)

    Lisbon Earthquake (Portugal)
    The magnitude of the earthquake was 9.0 and the death toll was 20,000. 85% of Lisbon's buildings were destroyed. Damage was reported in Algiers, 685 miles to the east of Lisbon.
  • Krakatoa Eruption (Java/Sumatra)

    Krakatoa Eruption (Java/Sumatra)
    The magnitude of this earthquake was a VEI of 6. The death toll was 36,000 deaths. The eruption had an explosive force of a 200 megaton bomb. Cooled the earth by an average of 0.6 degrees Celsius for months.
  • Aleutian Earthquake (Alaska)

    Aleutian Earthquake (Alaska)
    The magnitude of this earthquake was 8.1. The death toll was 160 deaths. Costed over $26 million in damages. The tsunami it generated obliterated the Scotch Cap lighthouse on Unimak Island.
  • Great Chilean Earthquake (Chile)

    Great Chilean Earthquake (Chile)
    The magnitude of this earthquake was 9.5. The death toll was 1665 deaths. It was believed that this earthquake shifted Earth's axis. It also shortened the day bay 1.26 microseconds.
  • Good Friday Earthquake (Alaska)

    Good Friday Earthquake (Alaska)
    The magnitude of this earthquake was 9.2. The death toll was 131 deaths. It is the largest earthquake in North America. The tallest tsunami wave recorded from the earthquake was 219 feet.
  • Hokkaido Earthquake (Japan)

    Hokkaido Earthquake (Japan)
    The magnitude of this earthquake was 7.8. The death toll was 120 deaths. Within 2-5 minutes of initial shock, large waves engulfed the central west coast of Aonae. Property losses totaled up to $600 million.
  • Papua New Guinea Earthquake (Papua New Guinea)

    Papua New Guinea Earthquake (Papua New Guinea)
    The magnitude of this earthquake was 7.1. The death toll was 2,100 deaths. Occurred on a reverse fault line near the north coast region of Papua New Guinea. Caused cracks in the ground to form in Arop and Warapu.
  • Sumatra Earthquake (Indonesia)

    Sumatra Earthquake (Indonesia)
    The magnitude of this earthquake was 9.1-9.3. The death toll was 230,000 deaths. It was estimated to have released energy equivalent to 23,000 Hiroshima-type nuclear bombs. Caused a shift in the Earth's mass, changing the planet's rotation.
  • Samoa Earthquake (Samoan Islands)

    Samoa Earthquake (Samoan Islands)
    The magnitude of this earthquake was 8.1. The death toll was 200 deaths. It generated waves up to 22 meters. It caused over $200 million in damages.
  • Chile Earthquake (Chile)

    Chile Earthquake (Chile)
    The magnitude of this earthquake was 8.8. The death toll was 700 deaths. The epicenter was located 200 miles south west of Santiago. This earthquake could be felt from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Tohoku Earthquake (Japan)

    Tohoku Earthquake (Japan)
    The magnitude of this earthquake was 9.1. The death toll was 20,000 deaths. It was the 3rd largest earthquake since 1900. IT generated a wave with a height of 0 meters.
  • Suawesi Earthquake (Indonesia)

    Suawesi Earthquake (Indonesia)
    The magnitude of this earthquake was 7.5. The death toll was 4,340 deaths. It generated a 1.5 meter tsunami. An estimated 2.4 million people were affected