Historic Tsunami

1960 Chile Tsunami

22 May 1960 · Southern Chile · Chile

On 22 May 1960 at 19:11 UTC, a tsunami formed near Southern Chile, Chile. It was caused by a magnitude 9.5 earthquake. Waves reached up to 25.0 m high. It was observed at 1,277 locations in 20 countries or territories, up to 18,102 km from its source. It killed at least 2,226 people and injured 3,000. It is the 30th deadliest and the 46th highest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.

Date

22 May 1960

Time

19:11 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

9.5

Highest Wave

25.0 m

Observation Sites

1,277

Furthest Reach

18,102 km

Deaths

2,226

Injuries

3,000

Homes Destroyed

58,622

Estimated Damage

1.0 billion US dollars

Source Country

Chile

Triggering Earthquake

1960 Valdivia Earthquake

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 33Chile · 25.0 m2,333 deaths
• 560Japan · 8.1 m283 deaths
• 379United States of America · 10.7 m63 deaths
• 6Philippines · 1.5 m21 deaths
• 1Argentina · 5.0 m3 deaths
• 1Uk Territory · 12.2 m
• 31Russia · 7.0 m
• 87New Zealand · 5.5 m
• 1Samoa · 4.9 m
• 78Australia · 4.3 m
• 28French Polynesia · 3.4 m
• 19Canada · 2.1 m

Highest Waves

• 25.0 mIsla Mocha · Chile · 52 km
• 15.0 mMehuin · Chile · 144 km
• 15.0 mLacuy (Lacui), Isla de Chiloe · Chile · 409 km
• 12.2 mPitcairn Island · Uk Territory · 5,485 km
• 11.5 mPunta Saavedra · Chile · 71 km
• 10.8 mIsla Mocha, 1960 Tsunami · Chile · 53 km
• 10.7 mHilo, Hawaii, Hi · United States of America · 10,645 km61 deaths
• 10.7 mHilo, Hawaii, Hi · United States of America · 10,645 km
• 10.0 mIsla de Chiloe · Chile · 486 km200 deaths
• 10.0 mCorral · Chile · 191 km3 deaths

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2010Central Chile, Chile · 29.0 m558 deaths
• 1965Southern Chile, Chile · 60.0 m27 deaths
• 1928Central Chile, Chile · 1.5 m279 deaths

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