Historical tsunamis · Dec 26, 1939, 11:57 PM UTC
1939 South Black Sea tsunami
Turkey
The tsunami of Dec 26, 1939, 11:57 PM UTC originated near South Black Sea (Turkey).
Key facts
- Date
- Dec 26, 1939, 11:57 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.8
- Depth
- 20 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.50 m
- Deaths
- 32,700
- Injuries
- 100,000
- Houses destroyed
- 120,000
- Damage
- US$ 20 million
- Observation records
- 12
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake at a depth of 20 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.50 m (Fatsa, Turkey).
12 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Tuapse (Russia) after 0:50 h.
The database records 32,700 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 120,000.
Damage is estimated at US$ 20 million.
Map of observation sites
12Each 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) · Dec 26, 1939, 11:57 PM UTC
- 0:00 hGeorgia · Batumi · 0.04 m
- 0:50 hRussia · Tuapse · 0.20 m
- 0:53 hUkraine · Yalta · 0.07 m
7 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 4 | 0.50 m Fatsa | — | — |
 Russia | 2 | 0.27 m Novorossiysk | — | 0:50 h |
 Ukraine | 4 | 0.25 m Sevastopol | — | 0:53 h |
 Georgia | 2 | 0.04 m Batumi | — | 0:00 h |
Highest documented water heights
12 / 12Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fatsa | 0.50 m | 216 km | Turkey |
| Novorossiysk | 0.27 m | 555 km | Russia |
| Sevastopol | 0.25 m | 723 km | Ukraine |
| Tuapse | 0.20 m | 468 km | Russia |
| Feodosiya | 0.13 m | 666 km | Ukraine |
| Kerch | 0.12 m | 657 km | Ukraine |
| Yalta | 0.07 m | 678 km | Ukraine |
| Batumi | 0.04 m | 259 km | Georgia |
| Giresun | — | 152 km | Turkey |
| Ordu | — | 188 km | Turkey |
| Poti | — | 307 km | Georgia |
| Unye | — | 237 km | Turkey |
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.