World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1918
Historic Tsunami
1918 Philippines Tsunami
15 August 1918 · Celebes Sea · Philippines
On 15 August 1918 at 12:18 UTC, a tsunami formed near Celebes Sea, Philippines. It was caused by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake. Waves reached up to 7.2 m high. It was observed at 10 locations in 4 countries or territories, up to 8,566 km from its source. It killed at least 52 people.
- Date
- 15 August 1918
- Time
- 12:18 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 8.3
- Highest Wave
- 7.2 m
- Observation Sites
- 10
- Furthest Reach
- 8,566 km
- Deaths
- 52
- Source Country
- Philippines
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1918 Celebes Sea Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 3Philippines · 5.5 m6 deaths
- 4Indonesia · 1.0 m
- 2Japan · 0.2 m
- 1United States of America · 0.1 m
Highest Waves
- 5.5 mGlan, Mindanao Island · Philippines · 135 km
- 2.5 mLebac, Mindanao Island · Philippines · 121 km6 deaths
- 1.0 mManado, Sulawesi Island · Indonesia · 457 km
- 0.2 mKushimoto · Japan · 3,324 km
- 0.1 mHonolulu, Oahu, Hi · United States of America · 8,566 km
- 0.1 mHososhima · Japan · 3,083 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2026Mindanao Island, Philippines · 2.5 m107 deaths
- 2025Mindanao Island, Philippines · 0.3 m10 deaths
- 2002Mindanao Island, Philippines · 3.0 m15 deaths
- 1976Moro Gulf, Philippines · 9.0 m8,000 deaths
- 1928Celebes Sea, Philippines97 deaths
- 1917Celebes Sea, Philippines · 1.5 m7 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth