Historical tsunamis · Jan 30, 1973, 9:01 PM UTC
1973 S. Mexico tsunami
Mexico
The tsunami of Jan 30, 1973, 9:01 PM UTC originated near S. Mexico (Mexico).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 30, 1973, 9:01 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.5
- Depth
- 43 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.13 m
- Deaths
- 56
- Injuries
- 390
- Houses destroyed
- some (about 51–100)
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 9
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake at a depth of 43 km.
The highest documented water height was 1.13 m (Manzanillo, Mexico).
9 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
The database records 56 deaths.
Houses destroyed: some (about 51–100).
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
9Each 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) · Jan 30, 1973, 9:01 PM UTC
- 0:19 hMexico · Manzanillo · 1.13 m
2 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 5 | 1.13 m Manzanillo | — | 0:19 h |
 United States | 3 | 0.22 m Hilo, Hawaii, Hi | — | — |
| USA Territory | 1 | 0.21 m Pago Pago, American Samoa | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
9 / 9Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manzanillo · Colima | 1.13 m | 154 km | Mexico |
| Acapulco · Guerrero | 0.43 m | 376 km | Mexico |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.22 m | 5,457 km | United States |
| La Paz · Baja California Sur | 0.21 m | 994 km | Mexico |
| Pago Pago, American Samoa · As | 0.21 m | 8,260 km | USA Territory |
| Salina Cruz · Oaxaca | 0.15 m | 868 km | Mexico |
| Mazatlan · Sinaloa | 0.12 m | 630 km | Mexico |
| Kahului, Maui, Hi · Hi | 0.11 m | 5,588 km | United States |
| Nawiliwili, Kauai, Hi · Hi | 0.11 m | 5,870 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.