Historical tsunamis · Sep 8, 2017, 4:49 AM UTC
2017 S. Mexico tsunami
Mexico
The tsunami of Sep 8, 2017, 4:49 AM UTC originated near S. Mexico (Mexico).
Key facts
- Date
- Sep 8, 2017, 4:49 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.2
- Depth
- 47 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 2.70 m
- Deaths
- 98
- Injuries
- 251
- Houses destroyed
- 47,468
- Damage
- US$ 4,000 million
- Observation records
- 68
- Countries affected
- 16
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake at a depth of 47 km.
The highest documented water height was 2.70 m (Boca de Cielo 1, Mexico).
68 observation sites in 16 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Acajutla (El Salvador) after 1:26 h.
The database records 98 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 47,468.
Damage is estimated at US$ 4,000 million.
Map of observation sites
68Each 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) · Sep 8, 2017, 4:49 AM UTC
- 0:12 hMexico · Huatulco · 0.69 m
- 1:26 hEl Salvador · Acajutla · 0.58 m
- 2:14 hCosta Rica · Quepos · 0.17 m
- 2:53 hEcuador · Baltra Island · 0.23 m
- 4:30 hPeru · Talara · 0.15 m
- 7:27 hChile · Iquique
- 8:05 hFrench Polynesia · Hiva Oa Island, Marquesas Islands · 0.18 m
- 9:00 hUnited States · Kawaihae, Hawaii, Hi
- 12:27 hSamoa · Apia, Upolu Island · 0.22 m
- 12:28 hUSA Territory · Pago Pago, American Samoa · 0.15 m
- 13:22 hWallis and Futuna (French Territory) · Leava, Futuna Island · 0.02 m
- 14:59 hFiji · Suva, King's Wharf · 0.04 m
- 15:08 hNew Zealand · Lottin Point · 0.10 m
- 15:42 hVanuatu · Litzlitz, Malekula Island · 0.04 m
- 17:29 hNew Caledonia · Ouvea · 0.06 m
46 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 21 | 2.70 m Boca de Cielo 1 | — | 0:12 h |
 El Salvador | 3 | 0.58 m Acajutla | — | 1:26 h |
 New Zealand | 9 | 0.34 m Owenga, Chatham Island | — | 15:08 h |
 Chile | 9 | 0.29 m Easter Island | — | 7:27 h |
 Ecuador | 3 | 0.28 m Santa Cruz Island | — | 2:53 h |
 Samoa | 1 | 0.22 m Apia, Upolu Island | — | 12:27 h |
 French Polynesia | 4 | 0.20 m Nuku Hiva Island, Marquesas Islands | — | 8:05 h |
 United States | 4 | 0.18 m Kahului, Maui, Hi | — | 9:00 h |
 Costa Rica | 1 | 0.17 m Quepos | — | 2:14 h |
 Peru | 3 | 0.15 m Talara | — | 4:30 h |
| USA Territory | 1 | 0.15 m Pago Pago, American Samoa | — | 12:28 h |
 Vanuatu | 3 | 0.14 m Port Vila, Efate Island | — | 15:42 h |
 New Caledonia | 2 | 0.08 m Ouinne | — | 17:29 h |
 Fiji | 2 | 0.04 m Suva, King's Wharf | — | 14:59 h |
 Panama | 1 | 0.03 m D32411 Bpr, 710 Nm Wsw of Panama | — | — |
| Wallis and Futuna (French Territory) | 1 | 0.02 m Leava, Futuna Island | — | 13:22 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 68Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boca de Cielo 1 · Chiapas | 2.70 m | 94 km | Mexico |
| Boca de Cielo 3 · Chiapas | 2.65 m | 95 km | Mexico |
| Boca de Cielo 2 · Chiapas | 2.56 m | 94 km | Mexico |
| Playa del Sol 1 · Chiapas | 2.36 m | 100 km | Mexico |
| Marina Chiapas, Puerto Chiapas · Chiapas | 2.00 m | 166 km | Mexico |
| Puerto Arista 2 · Chiapas | 1.82 m | 106 km | Mexico |
| Puerto Chiapas · Chiapas | 1.76 m | 164 km | Mexico |
| Puerto Arista 1 · Chiapas | 1.46 m | 101 km | Mexico |
| Madre Sal · Chiapas | 1.21 m | 92 km | Mexico |
| Salina Cruz · Oaxaca | 1.01 m | 188 km | Mexico |
| Madre Sal 2 · Chiapas | 1.00 m | 92 km | Mexico |
| Acapulco · Guerrero | 0.93 m | 674 km | Mexico |
| Huatulco · Oaxaca | 0.69 m | 250 km | Mexico |
| Acajutla · Sonsonate | 0.58 m | 466 km | El Salvador |
| La Libertad · La Libertad | 0.38 m | 522 km | El Salvador |
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.