Historical tsunamis · Mar 28, 1787, 5:30 PM UTC
1787 San Marcos tsunami
Mexico
The tsunami of Mar 28, 1787, 5:30 PM UTC originated near San Marcos (Mexico).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 28, 1787, 5:30 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.6
- Maximum documented water height
- 2.00 m
- Deaths
- 11
- Injuries
- few (up to about 50)
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 5
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.6 earthquake.
The highest documented water height was 2.00 m (Acapulco, Mexico).
5 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 11 deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
5Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 5 | 2.00 m Acapulco | 11 | — |
Highest documented water heights
5 / 5Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acapulco · Guerrero | 2.00 m | 156 km | Mexico |
| Jamiltepec · Oaxaca | 2.00 m | 82 km | Mexico |
| Tehuantepec · Oaxaca | 2.00 m | 349 km | Mexico |
| Corralero (Alotengo) · Oaxaca | — | 63 km | Mexico |
| Pochutla (Puerto Angel) · Oaxaca | — | 235 km | Mexico |
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.