Historical tsunamis · Sep 19, 1985, 1:17 PM UTC
1985 Mexico tsunami
Mexico
The tsunami of Sep 19, 1985, 1:17 PM UTC originated near Mexico (Mexico).
Key facts
- Date
- Sep 19, 1985, 1:17 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.0
- Depth
- 28 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 3.00 m
- Deaths
- 9,500
- Injuries
- 30,000
- Houses destroyed
- very many (over 1,000)
- Damage
- US$ 4,000 million
- Observation records
- 20
- Countries affected
- 8
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake at a depth of 28 km.
The highest documented water height was 3.00 m (Bucerias (Lighthouse), Mexico).
20 observation sites in 8 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Quepos (Costa Rica) after 3:36 h.
The database records 9,500 deaths.
Houses destroyed: very many (over 1,000).
Damage is estimated at US$ 4,000 million.
Map of observation sites
20Each 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) · Sep 19, 1985, 1:17 PM UTC
- 0:23 hMexico · Acapulco · 1.15 m
- 3:36 hCosta Rica · Quepos · 0.10 m
2 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 9 | 3.00 m Bucerias (Lighthouse) | — | 0:23 h |
 Ecuador | 2 | 0.30 m La Libertad | — | — |
 El Salvador | 1 | 0.29 m Acajutla | — | — |
 United States | 3 | 0.12 m Kahului, Maui, Hi | — | — |
| USA Territory | 1 | 0.12 m Pago Pago, American Samoa | — | — |
 Costa Rica | 1 | 0.10 m Quepos | — | 3:36 h |
 Samoa | 1 | 0.07 m Apia, Upolu Island | — | — |
 French Polynesia | 2 | 0.04 m Rikitea (Gambier), Mangareva Island | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 20Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bucerias (Lighthouse) | 3.00 m | 102 km | Mexico |
| Zihuatanejo · Guerrero | 3.00 m | 111 km | Mexico |
| Lazaro Cardenas | 2.80 m | 38 km | Mexico |
| Playa Azul | 2.50 m | 30 km | Mexico |
| Cuyutlan | 2.00 m | 181 km | Mexico |
| Boca de Apisa (Apiza) | 1.50 m | 138 km | Mexico |
| Ixtapa | 1.50 m | 110 km | Mexico |
| Acapulco · Guerrero | 1.15 m | 317 km | Mexico |
| Manzanillo · Colima | 1.00 m | 212 km | Mexico |
| La Libertad · Santa Elena | 0.30 m | 3,273 km | Ecuador |
| Acajutla · Sonsonate | 0.29 m | 1,452 km | El Salvador |
| Kahului, Maui, Hi · Hi | 0.12 m | 5,643 km | United States |
| Pago Pago, American Samoa · As | 0.12 m | 8,295 km | USA Territory |
| Baltra Island · Galapagos Islands | 0.11 m | 2,458 km | Ecuador |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.11 m | 5,512 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.