Historic Tsunami

1946 Dominican Republic Tsunami

4 August 1946 · Northeastern Coast · Dominican Republic

On 4 August 1946 at 17:51 UTC, a tsunami formed near Northeastern Coast, Dominican Republic. It was caused by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake. Waves reached up to 5.0 m high. It was observed at 8 locations in 3 countries or territories, up to 2,289 km from its source. It killed at least 1,790 people. It is the 36th deadliest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.

Date

4 August 1946

Time

17:51 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

7.9

Highest Wave

5.0 m

Observation Sites

8

Furthest Reach

2,289 km

Deaths

1,790

Source Country

Dominican Republic

Triggering Earthquake

1946 Dominican Republic Earthquake

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 4Dominican Republic · 5.0 m1,790 deaths
• 3United States of America · 0.7 m
• 1Bermuda (Uk Territory)

Highest Waves

• 5.0 mNagua · Dominican Republic · 88 km
• 5.0 mRio Boba · Dominican Republic · 94 km
• 2.5 mMatanzas · Dominican Republic · 88 km1,790 deaths
• 0.7 mSan Juan · United States of America · 314 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2021Port-Au-Prince, Haiti2,248 deaths
• 2020Puerto Rico, United States of America · 0.1 m4 deaths
• 2010Haiti & Dominican Republic, Haiti · 3.2 m316,000 deaths
• 1946Northeastern Coast, Dominican Republic · 0.6 m75 deaths
• 1918Puerto Rico: Mona Passage, United States of America · 6.1 m144 deaths

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