Historical tsunamis · Nov 21, 2004, 11:41 AM UTC
2004 Basse-Terre, Les Saintes tsunami
Guadeloupe
The tsunami of Nov 21, 2004, 11:41 AM UTC originated near Basse-Terre, Les Saintes (Guadeloupe).
Key facts
- Date
- Nov 21, 2004, 11:41 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.3
- Depth
- 14 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 2.00 m
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 12
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- US$ 155 million
- Observation records
- 9
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake at a depth of 14 km.
The highest documented water height was 2.00 m (Anse Rodrigue, Guadeloupe (French Territory)).
9 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records 1 deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at US$ 155 million.
Map of observation sites
9Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadeloupe (French Territory) | 8 | 2.00 m Anse Rodrigue | — | — |
 Dominica | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
9 / 9Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anse Rodrigue | 2.00 m | 24 km | Guadeloupe (French Territory) |
| Grande Anse Beach | 0.70 m | 22 km | Guadeloupe (French Territory) |
| Anse Pajot Classified as doubtful | 0.50 m | 21 km | Guadeloupe (French Territory) |
| Anse de Muriers | — | 22 km | Guadeloupe (French Territory) |
| Baie du Marigot | — | 24 km | Guadeloupe (French Territory) |
| Basse-Terre Island | — | 36 km | Guadeloupe (French Territory) |
| Petites Anse | — | 20 km | Guadeloupe (French Territory) |
| Portsmouth | — | 30 km | Dominica |
| Trois-Rivieres Village | — | 33 km | Guadeloupe (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.