World's Deadliest Tsunamis

Lisbon Earthquake- Portugal

Nov 1, 1755

This deadly earthquake killed an estimated 20,000 people. It produced a tsunami and led to fire. The fires from the tsunami went on for five days.

Krakatoa Eruption- Java/Sumatra

Aug 26, 1883

This deadly tsunami caused by a volcanic eruption killed an estimated 36,000 people. The top of the volcano suddenly collapsed into the ocean after the disaster occurred, This tsunami destroyed about 165 villages.

Aleutian Earthquake- Alaska

Apr 1, 1946

This deadly earthquake killed an estimated 160 people. During the earthquake, a large section of sea floor was lifted along a fault. This caused $26 million in damage.

Great Chilean Earthquake- Chile

May 23, 1960

This earthquake killed an estimated 61 people. This tsunami traveled across the Pacific ocean for about 15 hours and continued to get stronger and stronger.

Good Friday Earthquake- Alaska

Mar 27, 1964

This earthquaked killed an estimated 130 people. The action began around 5:30 pm. The 9.2 magnitude of this earthquake is over one million time more powerful than a 4.9 quake.

Hokkaido Earthquake- Japan

Jul 12, 1993

This earthquake killed an estimated 120 people. It occurred in the sunny time of July. It was a large earthquake that triggered the tsunami. The magnitude of this earthquake was 7.8.

Papua New Guinea Quake- Papua New Guinea

Jul 17, 1998

This deadly earthquake killed an estimated 2,100 people. The earthquake triggered a submarine landslide that then produced a tsunami. Thousands were left injured from this event.

Sumatra Earthquake- Indonesia

Dec 26, 2004

This deadly earthquake killed an estimated 230,000 people. The earthquake was thought to be caused by atomic bombs. It occurred in the Indian Ocean. The magnitude of the earthquake was a 9.1.

Samoa Earthquake- Samoan Islands

Sep 29, 2009

This earthquake killed an estimated 200 people. It was the largest earthquake that occurred in 2009. Hundreds were left injured.

Chile Earthquake- Chile

Feb 27, 2010

This earthquake killed an estimated 700 people. There was intense shaking for about 3 minutes. This tsunami/earthquake occurred off the coast of Chile.

Tohoku Earthquake- Japan

Mar 11, 2011

This deadly earthquake killed an estimated 20,000 people. This earthquake actually shifted earth off of its axis of rotation. More than 5,000 aftershocks hit Japan after this that year.

Sulawesi Earthquake- Indonesia

Sep 27, 2018

This earthquake killed an estimated 832 people. More than 330,000 people were left homeless or without shelter. About 1.5 million people have been affected from this incident.