Tsunamis in Ecuador
A total of 4 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1906 have killed 4 people in Ecuador. Tsunamis therefore occur only rarely here.The strongest tidal wave registered in Ecuador so far reached a height of 6.1 meters. On 03/11/2011, no losses of human lifes have been registered by this tsunami.
The biggest impact in terms of lifes, injuries, destroyed homes and the economy had been a tsunami on 01/19/1958. A tidal wave of up to zero meters killed 4 humans and destroyed vast areas.
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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 affected regions within the past 120 years.
The marked positions on the map represent the most affected regions within the past 120 years.
The largest tsunamis in Ecuador since 1906
| Date | Cause | Max. tidal wave | Fatalities | Total damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/11/2011 | Earthquake in Japan (Honshu Island) with a magnitude of 9.1. The tsunami caused damages in 11 further countries. A total of 18,431 humans died. | 6.1 m | 0 | |
| 01/19/1958 | Earthquake in Ecuador (Colombia-Ecuador) with a magnitude of 7.6. | 0 m | 4 | |
| 11/04/1952 | Earthquake in Russia (Kamchatka) with a magnitude of 9.0. The tsunami caused damages in 11 further countries. A total of 10,000 humans died. | 1.9 m | 0 | |
| 01/31/1906 | Earthquake in Ecuador (Off Coast) with a magnitude of 8.8. The tsunami also reached Colombia, United States. A total of 1,000 humans died. | 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.
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Recent earthquakes and their magnitudes in Ecuador
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