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Most Damaging Tsunamis

  • Lisbon Earthquake

    Lisbon Earthquake
    The earthquake was a magnitude of 9.0.
    30,000 people died.
    The earthquake lasted about 3.5-6 minutes.
    The Tsunami caused candles that were set out for All Saints Day to fall over and it caused a a firestorm.
  • Krakatoa Eruption

    Krakatoa Eruption
    The eruption had a magnitude of 6.
    36,417 people died.
    The eruption went on for 5 months and was heard 3110 km away.
    It was one of the most destructive volcanic events.
  • Aleutian Earthquake

    Aleutian Earthquake
    The earthquake had a magnitude of 8.6.
    Around 165-173 people died.
    The seafloor was elevated which triggered a pacific wide tsunami.
    The waves ranged from 45-138 ft tall.
  • Great Chilean Earthquake

    Great Chilean Earthquake
    The earthquake had a magnitude around 9.4-9.6.
    1655 people died.
    It lasted around 10 minutes.
    This earthquake was the most powerful ever recorded.
  • Good Friday Earthquake

    Good Friday Earthquake
    The earthquake had a magnitude of 9.2.
    131 people died.
    This was the most powerful earthquake recorded in North America.
    Some areas were permanently raised 30 ft and some dropped 8 ft
  • Hokkaido Earthquake

    Hokkaido Earthquake
    The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.7.
    185 people died.
    The resulting tsunami was powerful enough to do damage in Russia.
    The earthquake triggered fires, tsunamis, and a landslide.
  • Papua New Guinea Earthquake

    Papua New Guinea Earthquake
    The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0.
    Around 2183-2700 people died.
    The earthquake occurred on a reverse fault.
    The earthquake triggered a landslide which triggered a tsunami.
  • Sumatra Earthquake

    Sumatra Earthquake
    The earthquake had a magnitude of 9.1-9.3.
    227,898 people died.
    This event was one of the deadliest events in modern history.
    The resulting tsunamis reached as far as South Africa.
  • Samoa Earthquake

    Samoa Earthquake
    The earthquake had a magnitude of 8.1.
    189 people died.
    This was the largest earthquake in 2009.
    The earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
  • Chile Earthquake

    Chile Earthquake
    The earthquake had a magnitude of 8.8.
    525 people were confirmed dead.
    The earthquake was felt in the 6 Chile regions and was felt by 80% of the population.
    The resulting tsunamis hit California and Japan.
  • Tohoku Earthquake

    Tohoku Earthquake
    The earthquake had a magnitude of 9.0-9.1.
    15,899 people died.
    This event is often referred to as 3/11.
    It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan and 3rd most powerful in the world.
  • Sulawesi Earthquake

    Sulawesi Earthquake
    The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.5.
    4340 people died.
    The quake was felt as far away as Samarinda.
    The tsunami waves' heights reached between 4-7m high and were the deadliest in 2018