Historical tsunamis · Aug 30, 1902, 12:49 PM UTC
1902 Mount Pelee tsunami
Martinique
The tsunami of Aug 30, 1902, 12:49 PM UTC originated near Mount Pelee (Martinique).
Key facts
- Date
- Aug 30, 1902, 12:49 PM UTC
- Cause
- Volcanic eruption
- Maximum documented water height
- 3.00 m
- Deaths
- 1,500
- Houses destroyed
- 1
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 3
- Countries affected
- 1
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Volcanic eruption.
The highest documented water height was 3.00 m (Saint Pierre, Martinique (French Territory)).
3 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 1,500 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 1.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
3Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinique (French Territory) | 3 | 3.00 m Saint Pierre | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
3 / 3Individual documented observations for this event. Heights come from different measurement types and sources; not every location has a measured height.
| Location / station | Observed height | Distance from source | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Pierre | 3.00 m | 9 km | Martinique (French Territory) |
| Fort-De-France | 1.00 m | 26 km | Martinique (French Territory) |
| Le Carbet | — | 12 km | Martinique (French Territory) |
More tsunamis
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Historical Tsunami Database. Confirmed events only. Deaths and damage are database estimates; older records are incomplete. Water heights come from different types of observation.