Historical tsunamis · Sep 2, 1992, 12:16 AM UTC
1992 Nicaragua tsunami
Nicaragua
The tsunami of Sep 2, 1992, 12:16 AM UTC originated near Nicaragua (Nicaragua).
Key facts
- Date
- Sep 2, 1992, 12:16 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Depth
- 30 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 9.90 m
- Deaths
- 170
- Injuries
- 489
- Houses destroyed
- 1,500
- Damage
- US$ 30 million
- Observation records
- 81
- Countries affected
- 9
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at a depth of 30 km.
The highest documented water height was 9.90 m (El Transito, Nicaragua).
81 observation sites in 9 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Coco (Costa Rica) after 0:15 h.
The database records 170 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 1,500.
Damage is estimated at US$ 30 million.
Map of observation sites
81Each 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 2, 1992, 12:16 AM UTC
- 0:15 hCosta Rica · Coco · 3.85 m
- 2:22 hEcuador · Baltra Island · 0.56 m
- 4:43 hMexico · Socorro Island · 0.15 m
- 7:35 hChile · Easter Island · 0.42 m
- 10:00 hUnited States · Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · 0.08 m
9 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicaragua | 58 | 9.90 m El Transito | 96 | — |
 Costa Rica | 11 | 7.30 m Octal | — | 0:15 h |
 Ecuador | 2 | 0.56 m Baltra Island | — | 2:22 h |
 Chile | 2 | 0.42 m Easter Island | — | 7:35 h |
 Mexico | 2 | 0.15 m Socorro Island | — | 4:43 h |
 United States | 3 | 0.08 m Hilo, Hawaii, Hi | — | 10:00 h |
 Japan | 1 | 0.07 m Kesennuma | — | — |
 Cook Islands | 1 | 0.05 m Rarotonga | — | — |
 French Polynesia | 1 | 0.03 m Papeete, Tahiti | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 81Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Transito | 9.90 m | 116 km | Nicaragua |
| San Martin | 8.20 m | 116 km | Nicaragua |
| Julio | 7.60 m | 123 km | Nicaragua |
| Bahía Marsella | 7.33 m | 188 km | Nicaragua |
| Octal | 7.30 m | 231 km | Costa Rica |
| P.e. Nicaragua | 7.09 m | 118 km | Nicaragua |
| Miramar | 7.06 m | 118 km | Nicaragua |
| Salinas Grandes | 6.74 m | 117 km | Nicaragua |
| El Transito | 6.66 m | 116 km | Nicaragua |
| El Transito | 6.62 m | 116 km | Nicaragua |
| Bahía Marsella | 6.56 m | 188 km | Nicaragua |
| La Salinas | 6.50 m | 186 km | Nicaragua |
| Santa Elena | 6.18 m | 149 km | Nicaragua |
| Bahia Ostional | 6.16 m | 207 km | Nicaragua |
| Bahía Marsella | 6.16 m | 188 km | Nicaragua |
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.