Historical tsunamis · Jul 30, 1995, 5:11 AM UTC
1995 Northern Chile tsunami
Chile
The tsunami of Jul 30, 1995, 5:11 AM UTC originated near Northern Chile (Chile).
Key facts
- Date
- Jul 30, 1995, 5:11 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.0
- Depth
- 46 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 3.00 m
- Deaths
- 3
- Injuries
- 58
- Houses destroyed
- 115
- Damage
- US$ 1.8 million
- Observation records
- 91
- Countries affected
- 12
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake at a depth of 46 km.
The highest documented water height was 3.00 m (Tahanka Bay, Marquesas Island, French Polynesia).
91 observation sites in 12 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Santa Monica, Ca (United States) after 12:33 h.
The database records 3 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 115.
Damage is estimated at US$ 1.8 million.
Map of observation sites
91Each 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) · Jul 30, 1995, 5:11 AM UTC
- 12:33 hUnited States · Santa Monica, Ca · 0.13 m
- 15:10 hCanada · Bamfield, British Columbia · 0.06 m
- 17:19 hVanuatu · Port Vila, Efate Island · 0.16 m
13 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 French Polynesia | 5 | 3.00 m Tahanka Bay, Marquesas Island | — | — |
| Chile | 13 | 2.45 m Caleta Blanco | — | — |
 United States | 23 | 0.38 m Hilo, Hawaii, Hi | — | 12:33 h |
 Japan | 35 | 0.29 m Hachinohe | — | — |
 Samoa | 1 | 0.21 m Apia, Upolu Island | — | — |
| USA Territory | 2 | 0.17 m Pago Pago, American Samoa | — | — |
 Vanuatu | 1 | 0.16 m Port Vila, Efate Island | — | 17:19 h |
 Canada | 6 | 0.13 m Port Alberni, British Columbia | — | 15:10 h |
 Mexico | 2 | 0.11 m Socorro Island | — | — |
 Tonga | 1 | 0.07 m Nukualofa (Nuku'alofa) | — | — |
 Australia | 1 | 0.05 m Gold Coast, Queensland | — | — |
 Fiji | 1 | 0.05 m Lautoka | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 91Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tahanka Bay, Marquesas Island · Marquesas Islands | 3.00 m | 7,505 km | French Polynesia |
| Caleta Blanco · Antofagasta | 2.45 m | 117 km | Chile |
| La Rinconada, Antofagasta · Antofagasta | 2.39 m | 25 km | Chile |
| Hiva Oa Island, Tuhauku Bay | 1.50 m | 7,425 km | French Polynesia |
| Antofagasta · Antofagasta | 1.40 m | 36 km | Chile |
| Caldera · Atacama | 0.85 m | 416 km | Chile |
| Arica · Arica Y Parinacota | 0.75 m | 539 km | Chile |
| Nuku Hiva Island, Marquesas Islands · Marquesas Islands | 0.75 m | 7,570 km | French Polynesia |
| Calenta Punta Grande · Antofagasta | 0.60 m | 196 km | Chile |
| Talcahuano · Biobio | 0.53 m | 1,505 km | Chile |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.38 m | 10,356 km | United States |
| Kahului, Maui, Hi · Hi | 0.35 m | 10,544 km | United States |
| Tocopilla · Antofagasta | 0.35 m | 138 km | Chile |
| Valparaiso · Valparaiso | 0.33 m | 1,082 km | Chile |
| Iquique · Tarapaca | 0.32 m | 348 km | Chile |
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.