Historical tsunamis · Jul 10, 1958, 6:15 AM UTC
1958 SE. Alaska, Ak tsunami
United States
The tsunami of Jul 10, 1958, 6:15 AM UTC originated near SE. Alaska, Ak (United States).
Key facts
- Date
- Jul 10, 1958, 6:15 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake and landslide
- Magnitude
- M7.8
- Depth
- 35 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 524.6 m
- Deaths
- 5
- Houses destroyed
- few (up to about 50)
- Damage
- US$ 0.1 million
- Observation records
- 17
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake at a depth of 35 km.
The highest documented water height was 524.6 m.
17 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 5 deaths.
Houses destroyed: few (up to about 50).
Damage is estimated at US$ 0.1 million.
Map of observation sites
17Each 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) · Jul 10, 1958, 6:15 AM UTC
- 1:06 hUnited States · Sitka, Ak · 0.10 m
2 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 17 | 524.3 m Lituya Bay, Ak | 5 | 1:06 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 17Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lituya Bay, Ak · Ak | 524.26 m | 60 km | United States |
| Skagway, Ak · Ak | 7.60 m | 142 km | United States |
| Disenchantment Bay, Ak · Ak | 6.10 m | 246 km | United States |
| Khantaak Island, Yakutat Bay, Ak · Ak | 6.10 m | 224 km | United States |
| Mouth of Alsek River · Ak | 2.00 m | 141 km | United States |
| Dry Bay, Ak · Ak | 1.83 m | 141 km | United States |
| Dixon Harbor, Ak · Ak | 0.91 m | 12 km | United States |
| Glacier Bay, Ak · Ak | 0.91 m | 47 km | United States |
| Yakutat, Ak · Ak | 0.90 m | 220 km | United States |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.10 m | 4,543 km | United States |
| Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · Hi | 0.10 m | 4,455 km | United States |
| Kahului, Maui, Hi · Hi | 0.10 m | 4,458 km | United States |
| Mokuoloe-Coconut Is, Oahu · Hi | 0.10 m | 4,440 km | United States |
| Nawiliwili, Kauai, Hi · Hi | 0.10 m | 4,434 km | United States |
| Sitka, Ak · Ak | 0.10 m | 167 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.