Historical tsunamis · Mar 14, 1979, 11:07 AM UTC
1979 S. Mexico tsunami
Mexico
The tsunami of Mar 14, 1979, 11:07 AM UTC originated near S. Mexico (Mexico).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 14, 1979, 11:07 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Depth
- 49 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.30 m
- Deaths
- 5
- Injuries
- 35
- Houses destroyed
- 200
- Damage
- US$ 30 million
- Observation records
- 3
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at a depth of 49 km.
The highest documented water height was 1.30 m (Acapulco, Mexico).
3 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records 5 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 200.
Damage is estimated at US$ 30 million.
Map of observation sites
3Each 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) · Mar 14, 1979, 11:07 AM UTC
- 0:16 hMexico · Acapulco · 1.30 m
2 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 2 | 1.30 m Acapulco | — | 0:16 h |
| USA Territory | 1 | 0.07 m Pago Pago, American Samoa | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
3 / 3Individual 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 | 1.30 m | 182 km | Mexico |
| Manzanillo · Colima | 0.42 m | 351 km | Mexico |
| Pago Pago, American Samoa · As | 0.07 m | 8,405 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.