Historical tsunamis · Feb 13, 1963, 8:50 AM UTC
1963 E. Taiwan-Ryukyu Islands tsunami
Taiwan
The tsunami of Feb 13, 1963, 8:50 AM UTC originated near E. Taiwan-Ryukyu Islands (Taiwan).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 13, 1963, 8:50 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.3
- Depth
- 47 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.20 m
- Deaths
- 15
- Injuries
- 18
- Houses destroyed
- some (about 51–100)
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake at a depth of 47 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.20 m (Hualien, Taiwan).
2 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records 15 deaths.
Houses destroyed: some (about 51–100).
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 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.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwan | 1 | 0.20 m Hualien | — | — |
| USA Territory | 1 | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hualien | 0.20 m | 69 km | Taiwan |
| Pago Pago, American Samoa · As | — | 8,460 km | USA Territory |
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.