
Tsunamis in Puerto Rico
A total of 3 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1867 have killed 140 people in Puerto Rico. Tsunamis therefore occur only rarely here.The strongest tidal wave registered in Puerto Rico so far reached a height of 6.1 meters. On 11/18/1867, 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 10/11/1918. A tidal wave of up to six meters killed 140 humans and destroyed vast areas.
Other natural hazards in Puerto Rico:
› Hurricanes
› The most severe tsunamis in the world
Back to overview: Puerto Rico

The marked positions on the map represent the most affected regions within the past 160 years.
The largest tsunamis in Puerto Rico since 1867
Date | Cause | Max. tidal wave | Fatalities | Total damage |
---|---|---|---|---|
10/11/1918 | Earthquake, landslide in Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico: Mona Passage) with a magnitude of 7.1. The tsunami also reached Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands. | 6 m | 140 | |
03/17/1868 | Earthquakes on the Virgin Islands (Virgin Islands) | 1.5 m | 0 | |
11/18/1867 | Earthquakes on the Virgin Islands (Virgin Islands) with a magnitude of 7.5. The tsunami caused damages in 9 further countries. A total of 24 humans died. | 6.1 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.