Historical tsunamis · Jan 1, 1980, 4:42 PM UTC
1980 Azores tsunami
Portugal
The tsunami of Jan 1, 1980, 4:42 PM UTC originated near Azores (Portugal).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 1, 1980, 4:42 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.9
- Depth
- 13 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.41 m
- Deaths
- 69
- Injuries
- 600
- Houses destroyed
- 15,000
- Damage
- US$ 5.0 million
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake at a depth of 13 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.41 m (Angra do Heroismo, Terceira, Azores (Portugal)).
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Angra do Heroismo, Terceira (Azores (Portugal)) after 0:07 h.
The database records 69 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 15,000.
Damage is estimated at US$ 5.0 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.
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) · Jan 1, 1980, 4:42 PM UTC
- 0:07 hAzores (Portugal) · Angra do Heroismo, Terceira · 0.41 m
2 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azores (Portugal) | 2 | 0.41 m Angra do Heroismo, Terceira | — | 0:07 h |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angra do Heroismo, Terceira | 0.41 m | 46 km | Azores (Portugal) |
| Horta, Ilha de Fayal, Azores | 0.28 m | 80 km | Azores (Portugal) |
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.