World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1949
Historic Tsunami
1949 Greece Tsunami
23 July 1949 · Chios Island, Aegean Islands · Greece
On 23 July 1949 at 15:03 UTC, a tsunami formed near Chios Island, Aegean Islands, Greece. It was caused by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake. Waves reached up to 2.0 m high. It was observed at 4 locations in 2 countries or territories. It killed at least 7 people and injured 435.
- Date
- 23 July 1949
- Time
- 15:03 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 6.5
- Highest Wave
- 2.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 4
- Furthest Reach
- 49 km
- Deaths
- 7
- Injuries
- 435
- Homes Destroyed
- 534
- Source Country
- Greece
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
Highest Waves
- 2.0 mChios · Greece · 49 km
- 0.7 mMarmaro, Chios · Greece · 37 km
- 0.3 mOinousses (Inousses) · Greece · 30 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2020Aegean Sea, Turkey · 5.3 m118 deaths
- 1999Kocaeli, Turkey · 2.5 m17,118 deaths
- 1956Cyclades, Greece · 20.0 m56 deaths
- 1953Ionian Sea, Greece476 deaths
- 1932North Aegean, Greece · 2.0 m161 deaths
- 1912Marmara Sea, Turkey · 2.7 m2,800 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth