Historic Tsunami

1964 United States of America Tsunami

28 March 1964 · Prince William Sound, Ak · United States of America

On 28 March 1964 at 03:36 UTC, a tsunami formed near Prince William Sound, Ak, United States of America. It was caused by an earthquake and landslide. Waves reached up to 51.8 m high. It was observed at 427 locations in 20 countries or territories, up to 15,711 km from its source. It killed at least 139 people. It is the 25th highest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.

Date

28 March 1964

Time

03:36 UTC

Cause

Earthquake and landslide

Earthquake Magnitude

9.2

Highest Wave

51.8 m

Observation Sites

427

Furthest Reach

15,711 km

Deaths

139

Estimated Damage

400 million US dollars

Source Country

United States of America

Triggering Earthquake

1964 Alaska Great Earthquake and Tsunami

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 279United States of America · 67.1 m124 deaths
• 26Canada · 9.8 m
• 3French Polynesia · 2.0 m
• 6New Zealand · 1.3 m
• 8Mexico · 1.2 m
• 8Chile · 1.1 m
• 4Peru · 1.0 m
• 61Japan · 0.8 m
• 2Ecuador · 0.6 m
• 2Antarctica · 0.5 m
• 3Russia · 0.4 m
• 1Papua New Guinea · 0.3 m

Highest Waves

• 67.1 mCliff Mine, Valdez Inlet · United States of America · 51 km
• 34.5 mKings Bay, Ak · United States of America · 79 km
• 31.7 mPassage Canal, Ak · United States of America · 65 km
• 31.7 mWhittier, Ak · United States of America · 81 km13 deaths
• 30.8 mShoup Bay, Valdez Inlet, Ak · United States of America · 48 km
• 30.5 mAialik, Ak · United States of America · 175 km
• 24.2 mBlackstone Bay, Ak · United States of America · 68 km
• 23.8 mAnderson Bay · United States of America · 46 km1 deaths
• 22.0 mKenai Lake, Ak · United States of America · 135 km
• 21.3 mChenega, Ak · United States of America · 97 km23 deaths

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2024Pedersen Lagoon, Ak, United States of America · 62.0 m
• 2015Taan Fjord, Ak, United States of America · 193.0 m
• 1967Grewingk, Ak, United States of America · 60.0 m
• 1905Disenchantment Bay, Ak, United States of America · 33.5 m

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