Historical tsunamis · Dec 13, 1990, 12:24 AM UTC
1990 Eastern Sicily tsunami
Italy
The tsunami of Dec 13, 1990, 12:24 AM UTC originated near Eastern Sicily (Italy).
Key facts
- Date
- Dec 13, 1990, 12:24 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M5.3
- Depth
- 11 km
- Maximum documented water height
- —
- Deaths
- 19
- Injuries
- 200
- Damage
- US$ 500 million
- Observation records
- 1
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 5.3 earthquake at a depth of 11 km.
1 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 19 deaths.
Damage is estimated at US$ 500 million.
Map of observation sites
1Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
1 / 1Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta · Sicily | — | 22 km | Italy |
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.