Historical tsunamis · Feb 28, 1979, 9:27 PM UTC
1979 SE. Alaska, Ak tsunami
United States
The tsunami of Feb 28, 1979, 9:27 PM UTC originated near SE. Alaska, Ak (United States).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 28, 1979, 9:27 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake and landslide
- Magnitude
- M7.5
- Depth
- 15 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.15 m
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake at a depth of 15 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.15 m (Sitka, Ak, United States).
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 | 0.15 m Sitka, Ak | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sitka, Ak · Ak | 0.15 m | 545 km | United States |
| Yakutat, Ak · Ak | 0.05 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.