Historical tsunamis · Aug 31, 2012, 12:47 PM UTC
2012 Philippine Islands tsunami
Philippines
The tsunami of Aug 31, 2012, 12:47 PM UTC originated near Philippine Islands (Philippines).
Key facts
- Date
- Aug 31, 2012, 12:47 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Depth
- 28 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.15 m
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Houses destroyed
- few (up to about 50)
- Damage
- US$ 0.3 million
- Observation records
- 18
- Countries affected
- 5
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at a depth of 28 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.15 m (Kushimoto, Japan).
18 observation sites in 5 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at D52405 Bpr, Guam (USA Territory) after 0:44 h.
The database records 1 deaths.
Houses destroyed: few (up to about 50).
Damage is estimated at US$ 0.3 million.
Map of observation sites
18Each 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 31, 2012, 12:47 PM UTC
- 0:36 hPhilippines · Legaspi · 0.02 m
- 0:44 hUSA Territory · D52405 Bpr, Guam · 0.03 m
- 1:22 hPalau · Malakal Island, Caroline Islands · 0.02 m
- 1:41 hMicronesia, Fed. States Of · Yap Island, Caroline Islands · 0.02 m
- 1:57 hJapan · Ishigakiko · 0.05 m
17 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Japan | 8 | 0.15 m Kushimoto | — | 1:57 h |
| Philippines | 3 | 0.09 m Davao | — | 0:36 h |
| USA Territory | 4 | 0.04 m Midway Islands | — | 0:44 h |
| Micronesia, Fed. States Of | 2 | 0.02 m Yap Island, Caroline Islands | — | 1:41 h |
 Palau | 1 | 0.02 m Malakal Island, Caroline Islands | — | 1:22 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 18Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kushimoto · Wakayama | 0.15 m | 2,678 km | Japan |
| Chichijima Island · Bonin Is, Tokyo | 0.12 m | 2,430 km | Japan |
| Mera · Chiba | 0.12 m | 2,986 km | Japan |
| Omaezaki · Shizuoka | 0.11 m | 2,886 km | Japan |
| Davao | 0.09 m | 418 km | Philippines |
| Tosa-Shimizu · Kochi | 0.09 m | 2,517 km | Japan |
| Naha · Okinawa | 0.06 m | 1,709 km | Japan |
| Ishigakiko · Okinawa | 0.05 m | 1,519 km | Japan |
| Aburatsu · Miyazaki | 0.04 m | 2,352 km | Japan |
| Midway Islands · Hi | 0.04 m | 6,128 km | USA Territory |
| Wake Island · Um | 0.04 m | 4,389 km | USA Territory |
| D52405 Bpr, Guam · Gu | 0.03 m | 661 km | USA Territory |
| Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands · Mp | 0.03 m | 2,128 km | USA Territory |
| Legaspi | 0.02 m | 407 km | Philippines |
| Malakal Island, Caroline Islands | 0.02 m | 942 km | Palau |
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.