Tsunami Timetoast

Lisbon Earthquake (Portugal)

Nov 1, 1755

The magnitude of this earthquake was estimated to be 8.5-9.5. This started as a earthquake that resulted in a tsunami completely devasted Lisbon and led to significant changes in building codes in Europe.

Krakatoa Eruption (Java/Sumatra)

Aug 26, 1883

The magnitude of this earthquake was 6 and the death toll was 30,000. An interesting fact is that the eruption was felt as far as South America. Another fact is that this tsunami altered climate change for years.

Aleutian Earthquake (Alaska)

Apr 1, 1946

This earthquake had a magnitude of 8.6 and a death toll of 165. An interesting fact is that It generated a pacific wide tsunami resulting in destruction across Hawaii, where it caused significant damage and loss of life

Great Chilean Earthquake (Chile)

May 23, 1960

The magnitude of this earthquake was 9.5 and it was the most powerful earthquake recorded in history the death toll was 1,000-6,000. It triggered tsunamis that traveled that traveled across the Pacific ocean and hit locations such as Japan and Hawaii

Good Friday Earthquake (Alaska)

Mar 27, 1964

This earthquake was recorded at 9.2 and the death toll was 131. It was known as the most powerful earthquake in North America and had widespread devastation in Ancourage.

Hokkaido Earthquake (Japan)

Jul 12, 1993

This earthquake was recorded at 7.8 and the death toll was 230. The tsunami reached up to 30 feet tall. It highlighted Japan's need for better tsunami preparedness

Papua New Guinea Earthquake (Papua New Guinea)

Jul 17, 1998

This earthquake had a magnitude of 7.0 and a death toll of 2,200+. It was triggered a massive tsunami that struck several coastal villages in Papua New Guinea, wiping out entire communities in a matter of minutes. It led to significant changes in disaster response protocols in the region.

Sumatra Earthquake (Indonesia)

Dec 26, 2004

This earthquake had a magnitude of 9.1 and a death toll of 227,898+. This earthquake was one of the deadliest in history and triggered a massive tsunami that affected 14 countries. The event led to the establishment of an Indian Ocean tsunami warning system.

Samoa Earthquake (Samoan Islands)

Sep 29, 2009

The magnitude of this earthquake was 8.1 and the death toll was 34. This earthquake generated a series of tsunamis that struck the islands of Samoa and American Samoa. Many villages were severely affected, leading to a swift international humanitarian relief effort.

Chile Earthquake (Chile)

Feb 27, 2010

The magnitude of this earthquake was 8.8 and the death toll was 525. The Chilean earthquake is one of the strongest ever recorded. The quake was so powerful it shifted the city of Concepción 10 feet to the west and shortened the day by milliseconds.

Tokoku Earthquake (Japan)

Mar 11, 2011

This earthquake had a magnitude of 9.0 and a death toll of 18,500. This earthquake resulted in a catastrophic tsunami that caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, making it one of the most significant nuclear accidents in history.

Sulawesi Earthquake (Indonesia)

Sep 27, 2018

The magnitude of earthquake was 7.5 and the death toll was 2,256. The Sulawesi earthquake unleashed a phenomenon known as "liquefaction," where saturated soil loses its strength, resulting in buildings sinking and collapsing unexpectedly. This event also highlighted the need for improved disaster preparedness in Indonesia.