Historical tsunamis · Jun 17, 1928, 3:19 AM UTC
1928 S. Mexico tsunami
Mexico
The tsunami of Jun 17, 1928, 3:19 AM UTC originated near S. Mexico (Mexico).
Key facts
- Date
- Jun 17, 1928, 3:19 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.7
- Depth
- 35 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.20 m
- Deaths
- 4
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 10
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake at a depth of 35 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.20 m (Hilo, Hawaii, Hi, United States).
10 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Hilo, Hawaii, Hi (United States) after 8:24 h.
The database records 4 deaths.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 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) · Jun 17, 1928, 3:19 AM UTC
- 8:24 hUnited States · Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · 0.20 m
- 14:42 hSamoa · Apia, Upolu Island
- 17:01 hCanada · Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · 0.04 m
4 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 United States | 5 | 0.20 m Hilo, Hawaii, Hi | — | 8:24 h |
 Canada | 1 | 0.04 m Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia | — | 17:01 h |
| Mexico | 3 | — | — | — |
 Samoa | 1 | — | — | 14:42 h |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.20 m | 6,134 km | United States |
| La Jolla, Ca · Ca | 0.10 m | 2,762 km | United States |
| San Francisco, Ca · Ca | 0.10 m | 3,470 km | United States |
| Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · Hi | 0.05 m | 6,407 km | United States |
| Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · Bc | 0.04 m | 4,510 km | Canada |
| San Diego, Ca · Ca | 0.02 m | 2,745 km | United States |
| Apia, Upolu Island | — | 8,858 km | Samoa |
| Chacalma (Chakahua, Chacahua) | — | 58 km | Mexico |
| Huatulco · Oaxaca | — | 79 km | Mexico |
| Puerto Angel · Oaxaca | — | 71 km | Mexico |
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.