Historical tsunamis · 1610 BC
1610 BC Thera Island (Santorini) tsunami
Greece
The tsunami of 1610 BC originated near Thera Island (Santorini) (Greece).
Key facts
- Date
- 1610 BC
- Cause
- Volcanic eruption
- Maximum documented water height
- 90.0 m
- Deaths
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 2
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Volcanic eruption.
The highest documented water height was 90.0 m.
2 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records many (about 101–1,000) deaths.
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
2Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | 1 | — | — | — |
 Syria | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
2 / 2Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| N. and E. Coast Crete | — | 124 km | Greece |
| Ugarit | — | 937 km | Syria |
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.