Historic Tsunami

1968 Philippines Tsunami

1 August 1968 · East Luzon Island · Philippines

On 1 August 1968 at 20:19 UTC, a tsunami formed near East Luzon Island, Philippines. It was caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake. Waves reached up to 0.2 m high. It was observed at 41 locations in 3 countries or territories, up to 8,348 km from its source. It killed at least 270 people and injured 261.

Date

1 August 1968

Time

20:19 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

7.3

Highest Wave

0.2 m

Observation Sites

41

Furthest Reach

8,348 km

Deaths

270

Injuries

261

Estimated Damage

8 million US dollars

Source Country

Philippines

Triggering Earthquake

1968 Casiguran Earthquake

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 2Philippines · 0.1 m1 deaths
• 33Japan · 0.2 m
• 6United States of America · 0.1 m

Highest Waves

• 0.2 mMera · Japan · 2,691 km
• 0.2 mNaha, Ryukyu Island · Japan · 1,123 km
• 0.2 mIshigakiko · Japan · 891 km
• 0.1 mMurotomisaki · Japan · 2,212 km
• 0.1 mKushimoto · Japan · 2,321 km
• 0.1 mOmaezaki · Japan · 2,565 km
• 0.1 mAttu, Massacre Bay, Ak · United States of America · 5,981 km
• 0.1 mChoshi · Japan · 2,823 km
• 0.1 mWake Island · United States of America · 4,705 km
• 0.1 mMinami-Izu · Japan · 2,607 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 1994Philippine Islands, Philippines · 7.3 m81 deaths
• 1990West Luzon Island, Philippines · 2.0 m2,412 deaths
• 1983Luzon Island, Philippines16 deaths
• 1970Philippine Sea, Philippines · 4.3 m15 deaths
• 1965Taal, Luzon Island, Philippines · 4.7 m355 deaths
• 1911Taal, Luzon Island, Philippines · 3.0 m1,335 deaths

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