Tsunamis in the United States
In a total of 74 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1737 a total of 548 people died in the United States. Tsunamis therefore occur comparatively often in this country.The strongest tidal wave registered in the United States so far reached a height of 524.26 meters. At this Tsunami on 07/10/1958 a total of 5 people have been killed.
The biggest impact in terms of lifes, injuries, destroyed homes and economy had been a tsunami on 04/01/1946. A tidal wave of up to 42.20 meters killed 164 humans and destroyed vast areas.
Other natural hazards in the United States:
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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 240 years.
The largest tsunamis in the United States since 1788
| Date | Cause | Max. tidal wave | Fatalities | Total damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/15/2022 | Volcano in Tonga (Tonga Islands) The tsunami caused damages in 7 further countries. A total of 6 humans died. | 3.8 m | 0 | |
| 04/14/2019 | Earthquake in Iran (Iran: Southern: Firuzabad) with a magnitude of 5.2. | 1.2 m | 0 | |
| 10/18/2015 | Landslide in the United States (Icy Bay, Ak) | 193 m | 0 | |
| 06/13/2013 | Meteorological event in the United States (Northwest Atlantic Ocean) | 1.8 m | 0 | |
| 01/05/2013 | Earthquake in the United States (Se. Alaska, Ak) with a magnitude of 7.5. | 1.5 m | 0 | |
| 10/28/2012 | Earthquake in Canada (British Columbia) with a magnitude of 7.7. | 0.43 m | 1 | |
| 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. | 5.4 m | 1 | |
| 02/27/2010 | Earthquake in Chile (Central Chile) with a magnitude of 8.8. The tsunami also reached Chile, French Polynesia, Russia, New Zealand. A total of 156 humans died. | 1.2 m | 0 | |
| 09/29/2009 | Earthquake in Samoa (Samoa Islands) with a magnitude of 8.1. The tsunami also reached American Samoa, Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, , Tonga. A total of 192 humans died. | 1.2 m | 0 | |
| 10/28/2008 | Meteorological event in the United States (Maine) | 3.6 m | 0 | |
| 11/15/2006 | Earthquake in Russia (S. Kuril Islands) with a magnitude of 8.3. | 0.88 m | 0 | |
| 11/04/1994 | Landslide in the United States (Skagway, Ak) | 9 m | 1 | |
| 10/18/1989 | Earthquake in the United States (N. California) with a magnitude of 6.9. | 1 m | 0 | |
| 11/30/1987 | Earthquake in the United States (Gulf Of Alaska, Ak) with a magnitude of 7.9. | 0.43 m | 0 | |
| 11/29/1975 | Earthquake, landslide in the United States (Hawaii) with a magnitude of 7.7. | 14.30 m | 2 | |
| 02/04/1965 | Earthquake in the United States (Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Ak) with a magnitude of 8.7. | 10.67 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. | 67.09 m | 124 | |
| 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. | 10.70 m | 63 | |
| 07/10/1958 | Earthquake, landslide in the United States (Se. Alaska, Ak) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 524.26 m | 5 | |
| 03/09/1957 | Earthquake in the United States (Andreanof Islands, Ak) with a magnitude of 8.6. The tsunami caused damages in 6 further countries. | 32 m | 2 | |
| 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. | 10.40 m | 0 | |
| 04/01/1946 | Earthquake, landslide in the United States (Unimak Island, Ak) with a magnitude of 8.6. The tsunami caused damages in 6 further countries. A total of 167 humans died. | 42.20 m | 164 | |
| 10/27/1936 | Landslide in the United States (Lituya Bay, Ak) | 149.35 m | 0 | |
| 02/03/1923 | Earthquake in Russia (Kamchatka) with a magnitude of 8.3. | 6.1 m | 1 | |
| 07/04/1905 | Landslide in the United States (Disenchantment Bay, Ak) | 33.53 m | 0 | |
| 09/10/1899 | Earthquake, landslide in the United States (Yakutat Bay, Ak) with a magnitude of 8.2. | 60.96 m | 0 | |
| 04/03/1868 | Earthquake in the United States (Hawaii) with a magnitude of 7.9. | 13.70 m | 54 | |
| 01/01/1853 | Landslide in the United States (Lituya Bay, Ak) | 120 m | 0 | |
| 08/06/1788 | Earthquake in the United States (Shumagin Islands, Ak) with a magnitude of 8.0. | 88 m | 0 | |
| 07/21/1788 | Earthquake in the United States (Alaska Peninsula, Ak) with a magnitude of 8.0. | 30 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 the United States
Active volcanoes and eruptions in the United States