Most Damaging Tsunamis

Lisbon Earthquake

Nov 1, 1755

Portugal
Magnitude 8.5-9M
Killed about 20,000 people
It occurred in the Kingdom of Portugal. Around 9:20 a.m. local time. It was a combination of subsequent fires, tsunami, and earthquake that almost completely destroyed Lisbon

Krakatoa Eruption

Aug 26, 1883

Java/Sumatra Indonesia
Killed 36,000
Krakatoa is a volcanic island. It is between Java and Sumatra islands. This was one of the largest eruptions in recent time

Aleutian Earthquake

Apr 1, 1946

Alaska
Magnitude 8.1
Killed 160 people
It was over $26 million in damages. The seafloor along the fault was elevated. Reached the West Coast of the United States.

Great Chilean Earthquake

May 22, 1960

Chile
Magnitude 9.5
Killed 61 people
It was the largest instrumentally recorded. A foreshock had happened the day before. One of the longest ruptures ever reported.

Good Friday Earthquake

Mar 27, 1964

Chile
Magnitude 9.2
Killed 61 people
In Port Valdez they suffered from an underwater landslide. 32 people died from the landslide

Hokkaido Earthquake

Jul 21, 1993

Japan
Magnitude 7.7
Killed 230 people
It triggered a tsunami that killed people in Hokkaido and Russia. There were two major shocks the first lasted 20 seconds and the second lasted 35 seconds.

Papua New Guinea Quake

Jul 17, 1998

Papa New Guinea
Magnitude 7.1
Killed about 2,100 people
There was one main shock, and several aftershocks. It hit the Australia and Pacific plates.

Sumatra Earthquake

Dec 26, 2004

Indonesia
Magnitude 9.1
Killed about 230,000 people

Sumoa Earthquake

Sep 29, 2009

Samoan Islands
Magnitude 8.1
Killed about 200 people
It was the biggest earthquake of 2009. The water systems were completely damaged.

Chile Earthquake

Feb 27, 2010

Chile
Magnitude 4.8
Killed 525 people

Tohoku Earthquake

Mar 11, 2011

Japan
Magnitude 9.1
More than 2,500 people killed