Historical tsunamis · Nov 1, 1755, 9:30 AM UTC
1755 Lisbon tsunami
Portugal
The tsunami of Nov 1, 1755, 9:30 AM UTC originated near Lisbon (Portugal).
Key facts
- Date
- Nov 1, 1755, 9:30 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.5
- Maximum documented water height
- 18.3 m
- Deaths
- 50,000
- Houses destroyed
- very many (over 1,000)
- Damage
- extreme (over US$ 25 million)
- Observation records
- 123
- Countries affected
- 24
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.5 earthquake.
The highest documented water height was 18.3 m (Cadiz, Spain).
123 observation sites in 24 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Ayamonte (Spain) after 0:30 h.
The database records 50,000 deaths.
Houses destroyed: very many (over 1,000).
Damage is estimated at extreme (over US$ 25 million).
Map of observation sites
123Each 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)
- 0:30 hSpain · Ayamonte · 13.00 m
- 9:00 hAntigua and Barbuda · Antigua Island · 3.70 m
15 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Spain | 41 | 18.3 m Cadiz | 2,014 | 0:30 h |
| Portugal | 16 | 15.2 m Lisbon (Oeiras) | 30,000 | — |
 Morocco | 3 | 15.2 m Safi | — | — |
| Azores (Portugal) | 9 | 14.6 m Praca Vehla, Ilha Terceira, Azores | 6 | — |
| Saba (Dutch Territory) | 1 | 6.40 m Saba Island | — | — |
| Saint Martin (French and Dutch Territories) | 1 | 4.50 m Saint Martin Harbor | — | — |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 1 | 3.70 m Antigua Island | — | 9:00 h |
 Dominica | 1 | 3.70 m Portsmouth | — | — |
 Dominican Republic | 1 | 3.70 m Samana Bay | — | — |
| Guadeloupe (French Territory) | 1 | 3.20 m Saint-Anne | — | — |
 United Kingdom | 21 | 3.08 m Mousehole, England | — | — |
| UK Territory | 1 | 2.10 m Gibraltar | — | — |
| Martinique (French Territory) | 7 | 1.80 m Martinique | — | — |
 Ireland | 2 | 1.70 m Kinsale, Ireland | — | — |
 Barbados | 1 | 1.50 m Carlisle Bay, Barbados | — | — |
 Brazil | 5 | — | 2 | — |
 France | 3 | — | — | — |
 Netherlands | 2 | — | — | — |
| Bermuda (UK Territory) | 1 | — | — | — |
 Canada | 1 | — | — | — |
 Algeria | 1 | — | — | — |
 Haiti | 1 | — | — | — |
 Cuba | 1 | — | — | — |
 Finland | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 123Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadiz | 18.30 m | 334 km | Spain |
| Lisbon (Oeiras) | 15.20 m | 196 km | Portugal |
| North Coast Madeira Island | 15.20 m | 791 km | Portugal |
| Safi | 15.20 m | 525 km | Morocco |
| Tanger (Tangier) | 15.20 m | 397 km | Morocco |
| Praca Vehla, Ilha Terceira, Azores | 14.60 m | 1,525 km | Azores (Portugal) |
| Ayamonte | 13.00 m | 232 km | Spain |
| Tarifa | 12.00 m | 408 km | Spain |
| Lagos | 11.00 m | 119 km | Portugal |
| Conil | 10.00 m | 359 km | Spain |
| Alvor | 9.10 m | 126 km | Portugal |
| Cabo S Vicente | 9.10 m | 90 km | Portugal |
| Saga | 9.10 m | 94 km | Portugal |
| El Puerto de Santa Maria | 8.00 m | 339 km | Spain |
| Saba Island | 6.40 m | 5,606 km | Saba (Dutch Territory) |
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.