Most Damaging Tsunamis

Lisbon Earthquake (Portugal)

Nov 1, 1755

This magnitude of this earthquake was 9. It killed approximately 20,000 people. Many of the people in Lisbon were worshipping in church when the earthquake happened.

Krakatoa Eruption (Java/Sumatra)

Aug 26, 1883

This magnitude of this earthquake was not able to be assessed because we did not have the tool to measure it. It killed approximately 36,000 people. A cloud of ash rose nearly 7 miles above the island.

Aleutian Earthquake (Alaska)

Apr 1, 1946

This magnitude of this earthquake was 8.1. It killed approximately 160 people. This earthquake resulted in over $26 million in damages.

Great Chilean Earthquake (Chile)

May 23, 1960

This magnitude of this earthquake was 9.5. It killed approximately 61 people. This earthquake is the world's largest earthquake with an instrumentally documented magnitude.

Good Friday Earthquake (Alaska)

Mar 27, 1964

This magnitude of this earthquake was 9.2. It killed approximately 130 people. Its total damage coasts $311 million and last 4-5 minutes.

Hokkaido Earthquake (Japan)

Jul 12, 1993

This magnitude of this earthquake was 7.8. It killed approximately 120 people. There were 2 distinct shocks. The first lasted 20 seconds and the second lasted 35 seconds.

Papua New Guinea Quake (Papua New Guinea)

Jul 17, 1998

This magnitude of this earthquake was 7.1. It killed approximately 2,100 people. The quake occurred on a reverse fault near the north coast region of Papua New Guinea.

Sumatra Earthquake (Indonesia)

Dec 26, 2004

This magnitude of this earthquake was 9.1. It killed approximately 230,000 people. This earthquake is the 6th deadliest natural disaster in history.

Samoa Earthquake (Samoan Islands)

Sep 29, 2009

This magnitude of this earthquake was 8.1. It killed approximately 200 people. The waves of the tsunami generated by the earthquake measured 14 meters.

Chile Earthquake (Chile)

Feb 27, 2010

This magnitude of this earthquake was 8.8. It killed approximately 700 people. The earthquake was felt by nearly 80% of the countries population.

Tohoku Earthquake (Japan)

Mar 11, 2011

This magnitude of this earthquake was 9.1. It killed approximately 20,000 people. The total damage cost $360 billion.