Historical tsunamis · May 11, 1962, 2:11 PM UTC

1962 S. Mexico tsunami

Mexico

The tsunami of May 11, 1962, 2:11 PM UTC originated near S. Mexico (Mexico).

Key facts

Date: May 11, 1962, 2:11 PM UTC
Cause: Earthquake
Magnitude: M7.0
Depth: 40 km
Maximum documented water height: 0.81 m
Deaths: 4
Injuries: many (about 101–1,000)
Houses destroyed: some (about 51–100)
Damage: moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
Observation records: 1
Countries affected: 1

It was triggered by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake at a depth of 40 km.

The highest documented water height was 0.81 m (Acapulco, Mexico).

1 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.

The database records 4 deaths.

Houses destroyed: some (about 51–100).

Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).

All tsunamis in Mexico Record at NOAA/NCEI ↗

Map of observation sites

Each 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) · May 11, 1962, 2:11 PM UTC
0:09 hMexico · Acapulco · 0.81 m

1 places with a documented arrival time

Observations by country

Country	Observation records	Maximum documented water height	Deaths	Earliest arrival
Mexico	1	0.81 m Acapulco	—	0:09 h

Highest documented water heights

1 / 1

Individual 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	0.81 m	51 km	Mexico

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.