Historical tsunamis · Sep 5, 1996, 8:14 AM UTC
1996 Easter Island Region tsunami
Chile
The tsunami of Sep 5, 1996, 8:14 AM UTC originated near Easter Island Region (Chile).
Key facts
- Date
- Sep 5, 1996, 8:14 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.9
- Depth
- 10 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.09 m
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake at a depth of 10 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.09 m (Easter Island, Chile).
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
2Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chile | 2 | 0.09 m Easter Island | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
2 / 2Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easter Island · Valparaiso (Isla de Pascua) | 0.09 m | 688 km | Chile |
| Juan Fernandez Islands · Valparaiso (Juan Fernandez) | 0.05 m | 3,618 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.