Historical tsunamis · Apr 26, 1916, 2:21 AM UTC
1916 Bocas del Toro tsunami
Panama
The tsunami of Apr 26, 1916, 2:21 AM UTC originated near Bocas del Toro (Panama).
Key facts
- Date
- Apr 26, 1916, 2:21 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.0
- Depth
- 25 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.30 m
- Damage
- US$ 0.0 million
- Observation records
- 6
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake at a depth of 25 km.
The highest documented water height was 1.30 m (Careening Cay, Panama).
6 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at US$ 0.0 million.
Map of observation sites
6Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama | 5 | 1.30 m Careening Cay | — | — |
 Costa Rica | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
6 / 6Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Careening Cay | 1.30 m | 40 km | Panama |
| Isla de Carenero | 1.20 m | 39 km | Panama |
| Bocas del Toro | 0.60 m | 40 km | Panama |
| Isla Colon | 0.50 m | 38 km | Panama |
| Isla Bastimentos | — | 35 km | Panama |
| Sixaola | — | 68 km | Costa Rica |
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.