The Most Damaging Tsunamis

Lisbon Earthquake (Portugal)

Nov 1, 1755

Earthquake produced a tsunami that, along with the earthquake and resulting fire, killed an estimated 20,000 people. (M = 9)

Krakatoa Eruption (Java / Sumatra)

Aug 27, 1883

The explosion in the Sundra Strait between Java and Sumatra caused the top of the volcano to collapse into the ocean. This collapse produced a tsunami that killed more than 36,000 people.

Aleutian Earthquake (Alaska)

Apr 1, 1946

Produced a tsunami in the Hawaiian Islands that killed about 160 people. (M = 8.1)

Great Chilean Earthquake (Chile)

May 22, 1960

triggered a tsunami that killed 61 people in Hawaii after traveling for 15 hours across the Pacific Ocean. (M = 9.5)

Good Friday Earthquake (Alaska)

Mar 22, 1964

Alaska earthquake generated a tsunami that killed 130 people in Alaska and California. (M = 9.2)

Hokkaido Earthquake (Japan)

Jul 12, 1993

Earthquake in the Sea of Japan caused a tsunami that killed 120 people in Okushiri Island, Japan. (M = 7.8)

Papua New Guinea Quake (Papua New Guinea)

Jul 17, 1998

Papua New Guinea earthquake triggered a submarine landslide that produced a tsunami that killed more than 2,100 people. (M = 7.1)

Sumatra Earthquake (Indonesia)

Dec 26, 2004

Sumatra earthquake generated a tsunami that killed about 230,000 people. (M = 9.1)

Samoa Earthquake (Samoan Islands)

Sep 27, 2009

Samoa earthquake generated a tsunami that killed about 200 people. (M = 8.1)

Chile Earthquake (Chile)

Feb 27, 2010

Chile earthquake generated a tsunami that killed about 700 people in coastal towns. (M = 8.8)

Tohoku Earthquake (Japan)

Mar 11, 2011

Japan earthquake generated a tsunami that killed over 20,000 people. (M = 9.1)