Historical tsunamis · May 20, 2006, 11:20 AM UTC
2006 Soufriere Hills Volcano tsunami
Montserrat
The tsunami of May 20, 2006, 11:20 AM UTC originated near Soufriere Hills Volcano (Montserrat).
Key facts
- Date
- May 20, 2006, 11:20 AM UTC
- Cause
- Volcanic eruption
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.00 m
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 3
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Volcanic eruption.
The highest documented water height was 1.00 m (Deshaies, Basse-Terre Island, Guadeloupe (French Territory)).
4 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
4Each 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) | 1 | 1.00 m Deshaies, Basse-Terre Island | — | — |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 2 | — | — | — |
| Montserrat | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
4 / 4Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deshaies, Basse-Terre Island | 1.00 m | 62 km | Guadeloupe (French Territory) |
| English Harbour | — | 59 km | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Jolly Harbour | — | 50 km | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Little Bay | — | 7 km | Montserrat |
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.