Historical tsunamis · Nov 17, 2003, 6:43 AM UTC
2003 Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Ak tsunami
United States
The tsunami of Nov 17, 2003, 6:43 AM UTC originated near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Ak (United States).
Key facts
- Date
- Nov 17, 2003, 6:43 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.8
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.33 m
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 20
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.33 m (Kahului, Maui, Hi, United States).
20 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Christmas Island, Line Islands (Kiribati) after 7:47 h.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
20Each 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) · Nov 17, 2003, 6:43 AM UTC
- 0:47 hUnited States · Shemya Island, Ak · 0.26 m
- 7:47 hKiribati · Christmas Island, Line Islands · 0.04 m
- 18:29 hChile · Iquique · 0.04 m
18 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 14 | 0.33 m Kahului, Maui, Hi | — | 0:47 h |
 Chile | 5 | 0.15 m Caldera | — | 18:29 h |
 Kiribati | 1 | 0.04 m Christmas Island, Line Islands | — | 7:47 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 20Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, Maui, Hi · Hi | 0.33 m | 3,995 km | United States |
| Shemya Island, Ak · Ak | 0.26 m | 359 km | United States |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.22 m | 4,177 km | United States |
| Caldera · Atacama | 0.15 m | 13,711 km | Chile |
| Port Orford, Or · Or | 0.11 m | 4,315 km | United States |
| Adak, Sweeper Cove, Ak · Ak | 0.10 m | 337 km | United States |
| Nawiliwili, Kauai, Hi · Hi | 0.09 m | 3,759 km | United States |
| French Frigate Shoals, Hi · Hi | 0.06 m | 3,293 km | United States |
| Kawaihae, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.06 m | 4,110 km | United States |
| Charleston, Or · Or | 0.05 m | 4,299 km | United States |
| North Spit, Humboldt Bay, Ca · Ca | 0.05 m | 4,456 km | United States |
| San Antonio · Valparaiso | 0.05 m | 14,154 km | Chile |
| Christmas Island, Line Islands | 0.04 m | 5,891 km | Kiribati |
| D171 Bpr, North Pacific Ocean · Ak | 0.04 m | 1,239 km | United States |
| Iquique · Tarapaca | 0.04 m | 13,205 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.