Historical tsunamis · May 7, 1902
1902 Soufriere Volcano tsunami
St. Vincent & Grenadines
The tsunami of May 7, 1902 originated near Soufriere Volcano (St. Vincent & Grenadines).
Key facts
- Date
- May 7, 1902
- Cause
- Volcanic eruption
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.00 m
- Deaths
- 1,680
- Injuries
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 6
- Countries affected
- 5
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Volcanic eruption.
The highest documented water height was 1.00 m (Barbados, Barbados).
6 observation sites in 5 countries are recorded.
The database records 1,680 deaths.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 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.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Barbados | 1 | 1.00 m Barbados | — | — |
 Grenada | 1 | 1.00 m Grenada | — | — |
 St. Lucia | 1 | 1.00 m Saint Lucia | — | — |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 1 | 0.75 m Bequia | — | — |
| Martinique (French Territory) | 2 | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbados | 1.00 m | 179 km | Barbados |
| Grenada Classified as doubtful | 1.00 m | 144 km | Grenada |
| Saint Lucia | 1.00 m | 65 km | St. Lucia |
| Bequia · Grenadines | 0.75 m | 36 km | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Fort-De-France | — | 141 km | Martinique (French Territory) |
| La Trinite | — | 157 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.