Historical tsunamis · Nov 7, 2012, 4:35 PM UTC
2012 Guatemala tsunami
Guatemala
The tsunami of Nov 7, 2012, 4:35 PM UTC originated near Guatemala (Guatemala).
Key facts
- Date
- Nov 7, 2012, 4:35 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.3
- Depth
- 24 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.35 m
- Deaths
- 48
- Injuries
- 155
- Houses destroyed
- 2,769
- Damage
- US$ 210 million
- Observation records
- 7
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake at a depth of 24 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.35 m (Huatulco, Mexico).
7 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Acajutla (El Salvador) after 1:04 h.
The database records 48 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 2,769.
Damage is estimated at US$ 210 million.
Map of observation sites
7Each 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) · Nov 7, 2012, 4:35 PM UTC
- 1:04 hEl Salvador · Acajutla · 0.10 m
- 2:09 hMexico · Huatulco · 0.35 m
- 2:46 hEcuador · Baltra Island · 0.05 m
4 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mexico | 3 | 0.35 m Huatulco | — | 2:09 h |
 El Salvador | 1 | 0.10 m Acajutla | — | 1:04 h |
 United States | 2 | 0.07 m Kahului, Maui, Hi | — | — |
 Ecuador | 1 | 0.05 m Baltra Island | — | 2:46 h |
Highest documented water heights
7 / 7Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huatulco · Oaxaca | 0.35 m | 494 km | Mexico |
| Puerto Chiapas · Chiapas | 0.30 m | 96 km | Mexico |
| Salina Cruz · Oaxaca | 0.22 m | 429 km | Mexico |
| Acajutla · Sonsonate | 0.10 m | 227 km | El Salvador |
| Kahului, Maui, Hi · Hi | 0.07 m | 6,861 km | United States |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.06 m | 6,725 km | United States |
| Baltra Island · Galapagos Islands | 0.05 m | 1,605 km | Ecuador |
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.