Tsunamis in Canada
In a total of 11 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1903 a total of 45 people died in Canada. Compared to other countries, Tsunamis therefore occur rather rarely.The strongest tidal wave registered in Canada so far reached a height of 38 meters. At this Tsunami on 12/04/2007 no losses of human lifes have been registered.
The biggest impact in terms of lifes, injuries, destroyed homes and economy had been a tsunami on 03/28/1964.
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Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes or other seismic eruptions on ground of an oceans and can cause massive tidal waves, which run with enormous force on land, causing great devastation. Especially in regions with only few tsunamis, the damage is often drastic, as the population does not expect tsunamis and thus hardly takes any protective measures. Even relatively small flood waves can lead to high losses and financial damage.
The marked positions on the map represent the most effected regions within the past 120 years.
The marked positions on the map represent the most effected regions within the past 120 years.
The largest tsunamis in Canada since 1903
| Date | Cause | Max. tidal wave | Fatalities | Total damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/28/2012 | Earthquake in Canada (British Columbia) with a magnitude of 7.7. | 12.98 m | 0 | |
| 12/04/2007 | Landslide in Canada (Chehalis Lake, Chilliwack) | 38 m | 0 | |
| 04/27/1975 | Landslide in Canada (Kitimat Inlet, British Columbia) | 4.1 m | 0 | |
| 03/28/1964 | Earthquake, landslide in the United States (Prince William Sound, Ak) with a magnitude of 9.2. The tsunami caused damages in 5 further countries. A total of 124 humans died. | 9.8 m | 0 | |
| 03/28/1963 | Eruption in Canada (Graham Island, British Columbia) | 5.5 m | 1 | |
| 05/22/1960 | Earthquake in Chile (Southern Chile) with a magnitude of 9.5. The tsunami caused damages in 13 further countries. A total of 2,226 humans died. | 2.1 m | 0 | |
| 06/23/1946 | Earthquake, landslide in Canada (British Columbia) with a magnitude of 7.3. | 9 m | 0 | |
| 11/18/1929 | Earthquake, landslide in Canada (Grand Banks, Newfoundland) with a magnitude of 7.3. | 13 m | 28 | |
| 05/26/1929 | Earthquake in Canada (British Columbia) with a magnitude of 7.0. | 1.5 m | 0 | |
| 12/06/1917 | Explosion in Canada (Halifax, Nova Scotia) | 7 m | 16 | |
| 10/20/1903 | Eruption in Canada (Blacklead Island, Cumberland Sound) | 0 m | 0 |
These evaluations are based on data from the Global Historical Tsunami Database of the National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA, and World Data Service (NGDC/WDS), doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Individual data have been summarized or translated.
Most severe natural disasters worldwide
Recent earthquakes and their magnitudes in the United States
Climate and temperature development in Canada