Tsunamis in Panama
A total of 4 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1882 have killed 100 people in Panama. Tsunamis therefore occur only rarely here.The strongest tidal wave registered in Panama so far reached a height of three meters. On 04/22/1991, 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 09/07/1882. A tidal wave of up to three meters killed 100 humans and destroyed vast areas.
Other natural hazards in Panama:
› Earthquakes
› Hurricanes
› The most severe tsunamis in the world
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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 150 years.
The marked positions on the map represent the most affected regions within the past 150 years.
The largest tsunamis in Panama since 1882
Date | Cause | Max. tidal wave | Fatalities | Total damage |
---|---|---|---|---|
04/22/1991 | Earthquakes in Costa Rica (Limon, Pandora) with a magnitude of 7.6. | 3 m | 0 | |
07/18/1934 | Earthquakes in Panama (Costa Rica-Panama) with a magnitude of 7.7. | 0 m | 0 | |
04/26/1916 | Earthquakes in Panama (Bocas Del Toro) with a magnitude of 7.0. | 1.3 m | 0 | |
09/07/1882 | Earthquake, landslide in Panama (San Blas Archipelago) with a magnitude of 7.9. | 3 m | 100 |
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.