Historical tsunamis · May 21, 2003, 6:44 PM UTC
2003 N. Algeria tsunami
Algeria
The tsunami of May 21, 2003, 6:44 PM UTC originated near N. Algeria (Algeria).
Key facts
- Date
- May 21, 2003, 6:44 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.8
- Depth
- 12 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 3.00 m
- Deaths
- 2,287
- Injuries
- 11,000
- Houses destroyed
- 19,000
- Damage
- US$ 5,000 million
- Observation records
- 44
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake at a depth of 12 km.
The highest documented water height was 3.00 m (Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain).
44 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Ibiza (Spain) after 0:40 h.
The database records 2,287 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 19,000.
Damage is estimated at US$ 5,000 million.
Map of observation sites
44Each 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) · May 21, 2003, 6:44 PM UTC
- 0:05 hAlgeria · Algiers Harbour · 0.11 m
- 0:40 hSpain · Ibiza · 0.30 m
- 1:12 hItaly · Carloforte · 0.14 m
- 1:16 hFrance · Toulon · 0.10 m
15 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Spain | 24 | 3.00 m Ibiza, Balearic Islands | — | 0:40 h |
 Italy | 7 | 0.14 m Carloforte | — | 1:12 h |
| Algeria | 6 | 0.11 m Algiers Harbour | — | 0:05 h |
 France | 7 | 0.10 m Toulon | — | 1:16 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 44Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibiza, Balearic Islands | 3.00 m | 289 km | Spain |
| Majorca Island, Balearic Islands | 3.00 m | 271 km | Spain |
| Menorca Island, Balearic Islands | 3.00 m | 328 km | Spain |
| Puerto de Mahon | 2.00 m | 328 km | Spain |
| Santa Eulalia | 1.50 m | 290 km | Spain |
| Sant Antoni | 0.98 m | 303 km | Spain |
| Palma de Mallorca, Majorca Island | 0.58 m | 300 km | Spain |
| Valencia | 0.33 m | 442 km | Spain |
| Ibiza | 0.30 m | 289 km | Spain |
| Barcelona | 0.22 m | 502 km | Spain |
| Carloforte | 0.14 m | 476 km | Italy |
| Porto Empedocle · Sicily | 0.14 m | 880 km | Italy |
| Cagliari | 0.12 m | 541 km | Italy |
| Livorno | 0.12 m | 924 km | Italy |
| Malaga | 0.12 m | 718 km | Spain |
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.