Historic Tsunami

1902 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Tsunami

7 May 1902 · Soufriere Volcano · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

On 7 May 1902, a tsunami formed near Soufriere Volcano, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It was caused by a volcanic eruption. Waves reached up to 1.0 m high. It was observed at 5 locations in 4 countries or territories. It killed at least 1,680 people. It is the 38th deadliest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.

Date

7 May 1902

Cause

Volcanic eruption

Highest Wave

1.0 m

Observation Sites

5

Furthest Reach

179 km

Deaths

1,680

Source Country

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Triggering Volcano

Soufriere St. Vincent

Countries and Territories Reached

Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.

• 1Barbados · 1.0 m
• 1Saint Lucia · 1.0 m
• 1Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · 0.8 m
• 2France

Highest Waves

• 1.0 mBarbados · Barbados · 179 km
• 1.0 mSaint Lucia · Saint Lucia · 65 km
• 0.8 mBequia · Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · 36 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2004Basse-Terre, Les Saintes, France · 2.0 m1 deaths
• 2003Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat · 4.0 m
• 1997Cariaco-Cumana, Venezuela · 1.0 m81 deaths
• 1902Mount Pelee, France · 3.0 m1,500 deaths
• 1902Mount Pelee, France · 4.0 m
• 1902Mount Pelee, France · 5.0 m23 deaths

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth