World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1979
Historic Tsunami
1979 Colombia Tsunami
12 December 1979 · Colombia: Off Shore, Pacific Ocean · Colombia
On 12 December 1979 at 07:59 UTC, a tsunami formed near Colombia: Off Shore, Pacific Ocean, Colombia. It was caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake. Waves reached up to 6.0 m high. It was observed at 55 locations in 8 countries or territories, up to 15,500 km from its source. It killed at least 600 people and injured 20,000.
- Date
- 12 December 1979
- Time
- 07:59 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 8.1
- Highest Wave
- 6.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 55
- Furthest Reach
- 15,500 km
- Deaths
- 600
- Injuries
- 20,000
- Homes Destroyed
- 10,000
- Estimated Damage
- 8 million US dollars
- Source Country
- Colombia
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1979 Tumaco Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 12Colombia · 6.0 m36 deaths
- 2Ecuador · 0.8 m
- 2Mexico · 0.5 m
- 5United States of America · 0.4 m
- 31Japan · 0.3 m
- 1French Polynesia · 0.2 m
- 1Costa Rica · 0.1 m
- 1El Salvador
Highest Waves
- 6.0 mSan Juan de La Costa · Colombia · 114 km
- 5.0 mIsla Gorgona · Colombia · 198 km
- 3.0 mTumaco · Colombia · 68 km36 deaths
- 3.0 mVuelta Larga · Colombia · 195 km
- 2.0 mGuapi · Colombia · 192 km
- 2.0 mLimones · Colombia · 202 km
- 2.0 mIscuande · Colombia · 175 km
- 2.0 mEl Charco · Colombia · 220 km
- 1.0 mEl Barro · Colombia · 210 km
- 1.0 mTimbiqui · Colombia · 227 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2016Off Coast, Ecuador · 0.6 m663 deaths
- 2000Altar Volcano, Ecuador · 125.0 m13 deaths
- 1958Colombia-Ecuador, Ecuador115 deaths
- 1906Off Coast, Ecuador · 5.0 m1,000 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth