Historical tsunamis · May 20, 1902, 9:24 AM UTC
1902 Mount Pelee tsunami
Martinique
The tsunami of May 20, 1902, 9:24 AM UTC originated near Mount Pelee (Martinique).
Key facts
- Date
- May 20, 1902, 9:24 AM UTC
- Cause
- Volcanic eruption
- Maximum documented water height
- 4.00 m
- Houses destroyed
- 20
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 5
- Countries affected
- 1
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Volcanic eruption.
The highest documented water height was 4.00 m.
5 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Houses destroyed: 20.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
5Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinique (French Territory) | 5 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
5 / 5Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basse Pointe | — | 8 km | Martinique (French Territory) |
| Fort-De-France | — | 26 km | Martinique (French Territory) |
| La Precheur | — | 7 km | Martinique (French Territory) |
| Le Carbet | — | 12 km | Martinique (French Territory) |
| Petite Anse | — | 40 km | Martinique (French Territory) |
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.