Historical tsunamis · Aug 15, 1918, 12:18 PM UTC
1918 Celebes Sea tsunami
Philippines
The tsunami of Aug 15, 1918, 12:18 PM UTC originated near Celebes Sea (Philippines).
Key facts
- Date
- Aug 15, 1918, 12:18 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.3
- Depth
- 20 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 7.20 m
- Deaths
- 52
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 10
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake at a depth of 20 km.
The highest documented water height was 7.20 m.
10 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Hososhima (Japan) after 4:06 h.
The database records 52 deaths.
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
10Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Tsunami arrival times
Documented arrival times from the NOAA/NCEI database, showing the earliest recorded location per country. Coverage is incomplete: a country without an entry was not necessarily spared.
- 0:00 hEarthquake (origin) · Aug 15, 1918, 12:18 PM UTC
- 4:06 hJapan · Hososhima · 0.07 m
- 8:52 hIndonesia · Paleleh, Sulawesi Island
5 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | 3 | 5.50 m Glan, Mindanao Island | 6 | — |
 Indonesia | 4 | 1.00 m Manado, Sulawesi Island | — | 8:52 h |
 Japan | 2 | 0.20 m Kushimoto | — | 4:06 h |
 United States | 1 | 0.10 m Honolulu, Oahu, Hi | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
10 / 10Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glan, Mindanao Island | 5.50 m | 135 km | Philippines |
| Lebac, Mindanao Island | 2.50 m | 121 km | Philippines |
| Manado, Sulawesi Island · North Sulawesi | 1.00 m | 457 km | Indonesia |
| Kushimoto · Wakayama | 0.20 m | 3,324 km | Japan |
| Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · Hi | 0.10 m | 8,566 km | United States |
| Hososhima · Miyazaki | 0.07 m | 3,082 km | Japan |
| Bocat, Sulawesi Island · Central Sulawesi | — | 565 km | Indonesia |
| Buol, Sulawesi Island · Central Sulawesi | — | 561 km | Indonesia |
| Paleleh, Sulawesi Island · Central Sulawesi | — | 546 km | Indonesia |
| Surigao, Mindanao Island | — | 498 km | Philippines |
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.