World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1980
Historic Tsunami
1980 Algeria Tsunami
10 October 1980 · El Asnam · Algeria
On 10 October 1980 at 12:25 UTC, a tsunami formed near El Asnam, Algeria. It was caused by an earthquake and landslide. Waves reached up to 0.7 m high. It was observed at 6 locations, up to 612 km from its source. It killed at least 5,000 people and injured 9,000. It is the 19th deadliest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.
- Date
- 10 October 1980
- Time
- 12:25 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake and landslide
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.1
- Highest Wave
- 0.7 m
- Observation Sites
- 6
- Furthest Reach
- 612 km
- Deaths
- 5,000
- Injuries
- 9,000
- Homes Destroyed
- 250,000
- Estimated Damage
- 5.2 billion US dollars
- Source Country
- Algeria
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1980 El Asnam Earthquake
Highest Waves
- 0.7 mCartagena · Spain · 261 km
- 0.5 mAlicante, Inner Pier · Spain · 290 km
- 0.3 mMalaga · Spain · 522 km
- 0.2 mAlgeciras · Spain · 612 km
- 0.2 mAlicante, Outer Pier · Spain · 290 km
- 0.1 mAlmeria · Spain · 348 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2016Morocco · 0.0 m1 deaths
- 2006Ciutadella, Menorca Island, Spain · 5.0 m
- 2003Algiers, Algeria · 0.1 m9 deaths
- 2003North Algeria, Algeria · 3.0 m2,287 deaths
- 1954Sea of Alboran, Algeria · 0.3 m1,243 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth