Historical tsunamis · Dec 14, 1950, 2:15 PM UTC
1950 S. Mexico tsunami
Mexico
The tsunami of Dec 14, 1950, 2:15 PM UTC originated near S. Mexico (Mexico).
Key facts
- Date
- Dec 14, 1950, 2:15 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.5
- Depth
- 50 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.30 m
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake at a depth of 50 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.30 m (Acapulco, Mexico).
2 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
2Each 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) · Dec 14, 1950, 2:15 PM UTC
- 0:18 hMexico · Acapulco · 0.30 m
1 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 1 | 0.30 m Acapulco | — | 0:18 h |
 United States | 1 | 0.10 m Port Allen, Kauai, Hi | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
2 / 2Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acapulco · Guerrero | 0.30 m | 184 km | Mexico |
| Port Allen, Kauai, Hi · Hi | 0.10 m | 6,441 km | United States |
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.