World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1985
Historic Tsunami
1985 Mexico Tsunami
19 September 1985 · Mexico
On 19 September 1985 at 13:17 UTC, a tsunami formed near Mexico. It was caused by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake. Waves reached up to 3.0 m high. It was observed at 20 locations in 7 countries or territories, up to 8,381 km from its source. It killed at least 9,500 people and injured 30,000. It is the 15th deadliest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.
- Date
- 19 September 1985
- Time
- 13:17 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 8.0
- Highest Wave
- 3.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 20
- Furthest Reach
- 8,381 km
- Deaths
- 9,500
- Injuries
- 30,000
- Estimated Damage
- 4.0 billion US dollars
- Source Country
- Mexico
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1985 Mexico City Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 9Mexico · 3.0 m
- 2Ecuador · 0.3 m
- 1El Salvador · 0.3 m
- 4United States of America · 0.1 m
- 1Costa Rica · 0.1 m
- 1Samoa · 0.1 m
- 2French Polynesia
Highest Waves
- 3.0 mBucerias (Lighthouse) · Mexico · 102 km
- 3.0 mZihuatanejo · Mexico · 111 km
- 2.8 mLazaro Cardenas · Mexico · 38 km
- 2.5 mPlaya Azul · Mexico · 30 km
- 2.0 mCuyutlan · Mexico · 181 km
- 1.5 mBoca de Apisa (Apiza) · Mexico · 138 km
- 1.5 mIxtapa · Mexico · 110 km
- 1.2 mAcapulco · Mexico · 317 km
- 1.0 mManzanillo · Mexico · 212 km
- 0.3 mLa Libertad · Ecuador · 3,273 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 1995South Mexico, Mexico · 11.0 m50 deaths
- 1973South Mexico, Mexico · 1.1 m56 deaths
- 1957South Mexico, Mexico · 1.3 m65 deaths
- 1941Mexico84 deaths
- 1932Central Mexico, Mexico · 10.0 m75 deaths
- 1932Central Mexico, Mexico · 10.0 m400 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth