Historical tsunamis · Jun 3, 1932, 10:36 AM UTC
1932 Central Mexico tsunami
Mexico
The tsunami of Jun 3, 1932, 10:36 AM UTC originated near Central Mexico (Mexico).
Key facts
- Date
- Jun 3, 1932, 10:36 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.1
- Depth
- 35 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 10.0 m
- Deaths
- 400
- Injuries
- 120
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 19
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake at a depth of 35 km.
The highest documented water height was 10.0 m (Mismaloya, Jalisco, Mexico).
19 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Long Beach, Ca (United States) after 3:36 h.
The database records 400 deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
19Each 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 3, 1932, 10:36 AM UTC
- 3:36 hUnited States · Long Beach, Ca · 0.10 m
- 11:09 hSamoa · Apia, Upolu Island · 0.03 m
4 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 11 | 10.0 m Mismaloya, Jalisco | 4 | — |
 United States | 7 | 0.40 m Hilo, Hawaii, Hi | — | 3:36 h |
 Samoa | 1 | 0.03 m Apia, Upolu Island | — | 11:09 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 19Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mismaloya, Jalisco | 10.00 m | 170 km | Mexico |
| Bahia San Pedrito, Manzanillo · Colima | 3.00 m | 77 km | Mexico |
| Manzanillo · Colima | 0.75 m | 77 km | Mexico |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.40 m | 5,340 km | United States |
| Long Beach, Ca · Ca | 0.10 m | 2,111 km | United States |
| Santa Barbara, Ca · Ca | 0.10 m | 2,259 km | United States |
| Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · Hi | 0.08 m | 5,604 km | United States |
| Apia, Upolu Island | 0.03 m | 8,300 km | Samoa |
| San Diego, Ca · Ca | 0.03 m | 1,961 km | United States |
| Barra de Navidad | — | 93 km | Mexico |
| Chamela | — | 122 km | Mexico |
| Cuyutlan | — | 80 km | Mexico |
| El Chorro, Jalisco | — | 162 km | Mexico |
| Los Gatos, Ca · Ca | — | 2,627 km | United States |
| Majahuas, Jalisco | — | 155 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.