World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1992
Historic Tsunami
1992 Nicaragua Tsunami
2 September 1992 · Nicaragua
On 2 September 1992 at 00:16 UTC, a tsunami formed near Nicaragua. It was caused by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake. Waves reached up to 9.9 m high. It was observed at 83 locations in 9 countries or territories, up to 12,461 km from its source. It killed at least 170 people and injured 489.
- Date
- 2 September 1992
- Time
- 00:16 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.6
- Highest Wave
- 9.9 m
- Observation Sites
- 83
- Furthest Reach
- 12,461 km
- Deaths
- 170
- Injuries
- 489
- Homes Destroyed
- 1,500
- Estimated Damage
- 30 million US dollars
- Source Country
- Nicaragua
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1992 Nicaragua Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 59Nicaragua · 9.9 m96 deaths
- 11Costa Rica · 7.3 m
- 2Ecuador · 0.6 m
- 2Chile · 0.4 m
- 3Mexico · 0.2 m
- 3United States of America · 0.1 m
- 1Japan · 0.1 m
- 1Cook Islands · 0.1 m
- 1French Polynesia
Highest Waves
- 9.9 mEl Transito · Nicaragua · 116 km
- 8.2 mSan Martin · Nicaragua · 117 km3 deaths
- 7.6 mJulio · Nicaragua · 123 km
- 7.3 mBahía Marsella · Nicaragua · 188 km
- 7.3 mOctal · Costa Rica · 231 km
- 7.1 mP.E. Nicaragua · Nicaragua · 118 km
- 7.1 mMiramar · Nicaragua · 118 km
- 6.7 mSalinas Grandes · Nicaragua · 117 km
- 6.7 mEl Transito · Nicaragua · 116 km16 deaths
- 6.6 mEl Transito · Nicaragua · 116 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2014Gulf of Fonseca, El Salvador · 0.0 m1 deaths
- 2012Costa Rica · 0.2 m2 deaths
- 2012El Salvador-Nicaragua, El Salvador · 6.3 m
- 2001El Salvador · 0.3 m844 deaths
- 1976Guatemala · 0.1 m23,000 deaths
- 1902El Salvador-Guatemala, El Salvador · 2.0 m185 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth