World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 2015
Historic Tsunami
2015 Chile Tsunami
16 September 2015 · Central Chile · Chile
On 16 September 2015 at 22:54 UTC, a tsunami formed near Central Chile, Chile. It was caused by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake. Waves reached up to 13.6 m high. It was observed at 1,263 locations in 20 countries or territories, up to 18,385 km from its source. It killed at least 15 people and injured 14.
- Date
- 16 September 2015
- Time
- 22:54 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 8.3
- Highest Wave
- 13.6 m
- Observation Sites
- 1,263
- Furthest Reach
- 18,385 km
- Deaths
- 15
- Injuries
- 14
- Homes Destroyed
- 2,305
- Estimated Damage
- 600 million US dollars
- Source Country
- Chile
- Triggering Earthquake
- 2015 Illapel Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 1,082Chile · 13.6 m8 deaths
- 4French Polynesia · 1.4 m
- 57United States of America · 0.9 m
- 49Japan · 0.8 m
- 3Ecuador · 0.6 m
- 3Peru · 0.5 m
- 2Costa Rica · 0.5 m
- 1Russia · 0.4 m
- 17Mexico · 0.4 m
- 16New Zealand · 0.4 m
- 7New Caledonia · 0.2 m
- 2Solomon Islands · 0.2 m
Highest Waves
- 13.6 mLa Cebada · Chile · 66 km
- 12.8 mLa Cebada · Chile · 63 km
- 11.4 mS Caleta Talcacura · Chile · 120 km
- 10.8 mTotoral · Chile · 134 km
- 10.4 mS Caleta Talcacura · Chile · 119 km
- 9.3 mLos Vilos · Chile · 41 km
- 9.0 mPlaya Socos · Chile · 147 km
- 8.7 mCaleta El Sauce - Playa · Chile · 114 km
- 8.1 mLengua de Vaca · Chile · 145 km
- 8.1 mPunta Lengua de Vaca Playa · Chile · 140 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 1985Central Chile, Chile · 3.5 m180 deaths
- 1971Central Chile, Chile · 0.6 m83 deaths
- 1943Central Chile, Chile · 1.0 m11 deaths
- 1928Central Chile, Chile · 1.5 m279 deaths
- 1922Northern Chile, Chile · 5.5 m700 deaths
- 1906Central Chile, Chile · 3.5 m4,000 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth