Historical tsunamis · Feb 6, 1783, 12:20 AM UTC
1783 Messina Straits tsunami
Italy
The tsunami of Feb 6, 1783, 12:20 AM UTC originated near Messina Straits (Italy).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 6, 1783, 12:20 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake and landslide
- Magnitude
- M5.9
- Depth
- 6 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 16.0 m
- Deaths
- 1,500
- Houses destroyed
- some (about 51–100)
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 8
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake at a depth of 6 km.
The highest documented water height was 16.0 m (Marina Grande, Island of Capri, Italy).
8 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 1,500 deaths.
Houses destroyed: some (about 51–100).
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
8Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 8 | 16.0 m Marina Grande, Island of Capri | 1,554 | — |
Highest documented water heights
8 / 8Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marina Grande, Island of Capri | 16.00 m | 285 km | Italy |
| Torre del Faro · Messina | 6.00 m | 6 km | Italy |
| Reggio Calabria · Calabria | 3.20 m | 13 km | Italy |
| Cannitello · Calabria | 2.90 m | 2 km | Italy |
| Messina, Sicily · Sicily | 2.00 m | 8 km | Italy |
| Bagnara · Calabria | — | 16 km | Italy |
| Nicotera · Calabria | — | 45 km | Italy |
| Scilla · Calabria | — | 8 km | Italy |
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.