World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 2003
Historic Tsunami
2003 Algeria Tsunami
21 May 2003 · North Algeria · Algeria
On 21 May 2003 at 18:44 UTC, a tsunami formed near North Algeria, Algeria. It was caused by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake. Waves reached up to 3.0 m high. It was observed at 44 locations in 4 countries or territories, up to 939 km from its source. It killed at least 2,287 people and injured 11,000. It is the 28th deadliest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.
- Date
- 21 May 2003
- Time
- 18:44 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 6.8
- Highest Wave
- 3.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 44
- Furthest Reach
- 939 km
- Deaths
- 2,287
- Injuries
- 11,000
- Homes Destroyed
- 19,000
- Estimated Damage
- 5.0 billion US dollars
- Source Country
- Algeria
- Triggering Earthquake
- 2003 Boumerdès Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
Highest Waves
- 3.0 mMajorca Island, Balearic Islands · Spain · 271 km
- 3.0 mMenorca Island, Balearic Islands · Spain · 328 km
- 3.0 mIbiza, Balearic Islands · Spain · 289 km
- 2.0 mPuerto de Mahon · Spain · 328 km
- 1.5 mSanta Eulalia · Spain · 291 km
- 1.0 mSant Antoni · Spain · 303 km
- 0.6 mPalma de Mallorca, Majorca Island · Spain · 300 km
- 0.3 mValencia · Spain · 442 km
- 0.3 mIbiza · Spain · 289 km
- 0.2 mBarcelona · Spain · 502 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2006Ciutadella, Menorca Island, Spain · 5.0 m
- 2003Algiers, Algeria · 0.1 m9 deaths
- 1980El Asnam, Algeria · 0.7 m5,000 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