Historical tsunamis · Jan 22, 2003, 2:06 AM UTC
2003 S. Mexico tsunami
Mexico
The tsunami of Jan 22, 2003, 2:06 AM UTC originated near S. Mexico (Mexico).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 22, 2003, 2:06 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.5
- Depth
- 24 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.61 m
- Deaths
- 29
- Injuries
- 1,073
- Houses destroyed
- 2,005
- Damage
- US$ 116 million
- Observation records
- 6
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake at a depth of 24 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.61 m (Manzanillo, Mexico).
6 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Bamfield, British Columbia (Canada) after 7:00 h.
The database records 29 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 2,005.
Damage is estimated at US$ 116 million.
Map of observation sites
6Each 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) · Jan 22, 2003, 2:06 AM UTC
- 0:12 hMexico · Manzanillo · 0.61 m
- 7:00 hCanada · Bamfield, British Columbia · 0.04 m
6 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 3 | 0.61 m Manzanillo | — | 0:12 h |
 Canada | 3 | 0.05 m Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia | — | 7:00 h |
Highest documented water heights
6 / 6Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manzanillo · Colima | 0.61 m | 39 km | Mexico |
| Zihuatanejo · Guerrero | 0.35 m | 297 km | Mexico |
| Lazaro Cardenas · Michoacan | 0.12 m | 223 km | Mexico |
| Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · Bc | 0.05 m | 3,896 km | Canada |
| Bamfield, British Columbia · Bc | 0.04 m | 3,834 km | Canada |
| Winter Harbor, British Columbia · Bc | 0.04 m | 4,109 km | Canada |
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.