Historic Tsunami

2012 Guatemala Tsunami

7 November 2012 · Guatemala

On 7 November 2012 at 16:35 UTC, a tsunami formed near Guatemala. It was caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake. Waves reached up to 0.4 m high. It was observed at 7 locations in 4 countries or territories, up to 6,861 km from its source. It killed at least 48 people and injured 155.

Date

7 November 2012

Time

16:35 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

7.3

Highest Wave

0.4 m

Observation Sites

7

Furthest Reach

6,861 km

Deaths

48

Injuries

155

Homes Destroyed

2,769

Estimated Damage

210 million US dollars

Source Country

Guatemala

Triggering Earthquake

2012 Guatemala Earthquake

Countries and Territories Reached

Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.

• 3Mexico · 0.4 m
• 1El Salvador · 0.1 m
• 2United States of America · 0.1 m
• 1Ecuador · 0.1 m

Highest Waves

• 0.4 mHuatulco · Mexico · 494 km
• 0.3 mPuerto Chiapas · Mexico · 96 km
• 0.2 mSalina Cruz · Mexico · 429 km
• 0.1 mAcajutla · El Salvador · 227 km
• 0.1 mKahului, Maui, Hi · United States of America · 6,861 km
• 0.1 mHilo, Hawaii, Hi · United States of America · 6,725 km
• 0.1 mBaltra Island · Ecuador · 1,605 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2020Off Coast of Oaxaca, Mexico · 1.6 m10 deaths
• 2017South Mexico, Mexico · 2.7 m98 deaths
• 2007Juan de Grijalva, Chiapas, Mexico · 50.0 m19 deaths
• 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