World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1974
Historic Tsunami
1974 Peru Tsunami
3 October 1974 · Central Peru · Peru
On 3 October 1974 at 14:21 UTC, a tsunami formed near Central Peru, Peru. It was caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake. Waves reached up to 0.9 m high. It was observed at 34 locations in 3 countries or territories, up to 16,688 km from its source. It killed at least 78 people and injured 2,414.
- Date
- 3 October 1974
- Time
- 14:21 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 8.1
- Highest Wave
- 0.9 m
- Observation Sites
- 34
- Furthest Reach
- 16,688 km
- Deaths
- 78
- Injuries
- 2,414
- Estimated Damage
- 10 million US dollars
- Source Country
- Peru
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1974 Lima Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 2Peru · 0.9 m
- 6United States of America · 0.4 m
- 26Japan · 0.2 m
Highest Waves
- 0.9 mCallao la Punta · Peru · 71 km
- 0.4 mHilo, Hawaii, Hi · United States of America · 9,173 km
- 0.4 mKahului, Maui, Hi · United States of America · 9,350 km
- 0.3 mPago Pago, American Samoa · United States of America · 9,992 km
- 0.2 mHiroo · Japan · 14,843 km
- 0.2 mTokachiko · Japan · 14,842 km
- 0.2 mHanasaki · Japan · 14,629 km
- 0.2 mAmami-Oshima · Japan · 16,688 km
- 0.2 mNaze · Japan · 16,677 km
- 0.1 mHachinohe · Japan · 15,067 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2007South Peru, Peru · 10.1 m596 deaths
- 1996South Peru, Peru · 0.4 m14 deaths
- 1971Chungar, Peru · 30.0 m600 deaths
- 1970North Peru, Peru · 0.5 m66,794 deaths
- 1966Central Peru, Peru · 3.0 m110 deaths
- 1942South Peru, Peru · 2.0 m30 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth