Historical tsunamis · Aug 15, 2007, 11:40 PM UTC
2007 S. Peru tsunami
Peru
The tsunami of Aug 15, 2007, 11:40 PM UTC originated near S. Peru (Peru).
Key facts
- Date
- Aug 15, 2007, 11:40 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.0
- Depth
- 39 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 10.0 m
- Deaths
- 596
- Injuries
- 1,292
- Houses destroyed
- 93,708
- Damage
- US$ 600 million
- Observation records
- 141
- Countries affected
- 14
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake at a depth of 39 km.
The highest documented water height was 10.0 m (Playa Yumaque, Peru).
141 observation sites in 14 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at D32401 Bpr, W-SW of Arica, Chile (Chile) after 1:00 h.
The database records 596 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 93,708.
Damage is estimated at US$ 600 million.
Map of observation sites
141Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Tsunami arrival times
Documented arrival times from the NOAA/NCEI database, showing the earliest recorded location per country. Coverage is incomplete: a country without an entry was not necessarily spared.
- 0:00 hEarthquake (origin) · Aug 15, 2007, 11:40 PM UTC
- 0:31 hPeru · San Juan · 0.67 m
- 1:00 hChile · D32401 Bpr, W-SW of Arica, Chile · 0.05 m
- 4:36 hEcuador · Santa Cruz Island · 0.27 m
- 6:30 hMexico · Acapulco · 0.20 m
- 8:39 hFrench Polynesia · Rikitea, Mangareva Island · 0.06 m
- 11:12 hUnited States · Santa Monica, Ca · 0.07 m
- 13:57 hNew Zealand · Kaingaroa, Chatham Island · 0.30 m
- 14:13 hSamoa · Apia, Upolu Island · 0.13 m
- 14:16 hUSA Territory · Pago Pago, American Samoa · 0.17 m
- 20:26 hJapan · Ofunato · 0.04 m
45 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peru | 87 | 10.0 m Playa Yumaque | 3 | 0:31 h |
 United States | 17 | 0.37 m Hilo, Hawaii, Hi | — | 11:12 h |
 Chile | 12 | 0.36 m Arica | — | 1:00 h |
 New Zealand | 6 | 0.30 m Kaingaroa, Chatham Island | — | 13:57 h |
 French Polynesia | 2 | 0.30 m Nuku Hiva Island, Marquesas Islands | — | 8:39 h |
 Ecuador | 1 | 0.27 m Santa Cruz Island | — | 4:36 h |
 Mexico | 2 | 0.20 m Acapulco | — | 6:30 h |
| USA Territory | 3 | 0.17 m Pago Pago, American Samoa | — | 14:16 h |
 Vanuatu | 1 | 0.14 m Port Vila, Efate Island | — | — |
 Japan | 6 | 0.13 m Tosa-Shimizu | — | 20:26 h |
 Samoa | 1 | 0.13 m Apia, Upolu Island | — | 14:13 h |
| Marshall Islands, Rep. Of | 1 | 0.04 m Kwajalein, Marshall Islands | — | — |
 Tonga | 1 | 0.03 m Nukualofa (Nuku'alofa) | — | — |
 Philippines | 1 | 0.01 m Davao | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 141Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playa Yumaque · Ica | 10.05 m | 67 km | Peru |
| Playa la Catedral · Ica | 7.13 m | 71 km | Peru |
| Playa Yumaque · Ica | 7.05 m | 67 km | Peru |
| Ensenada del Playon · Ica | 5.71 m | 83 km | Peru |
| Lagunilla Village · Ica | 5.66 m | 65 km | Peru |
| Lagunilla Control Post · Ica | 5.63 m | 64 km | Peru |
| Lagunilla Control Post · Ica | 5.33 m | 64 km | Peru |
| Lagunilla Village · Ica | 5.27 m | 64 km | Peru |
| Lagunilla Control Post · Ica | 4.93 m | 64 km | Peru |
| Lagunilla Village · Ica | 4.87 m | 64 km | Peru |
| Lagunilla Village · Ica | 4.47 m | 64 km | Peru |
| Chucho · Ica | 4.40 m | 94 km | Peru |
| Tunga · Ica | 4.34 m | 104 km | Peru |
| Ensenada del Playon · Ica | 4.31 m | 83 km | Peru |
| Playa Iguana · Lima | 4.21 m | 36 km | Peru |
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.