Historical tsunamis · Sep 16, 1994, 6:20 AM UTC
1994 Taiwan Strait tsunami
Taiwan
The tsunami of Sep 16, 1994, 6:20 AM UTC originated near Taiwan Strait (Taiwan).
Key facts
- Date
- Sep 16, 1994, 6:20 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.7
- Depth
- 13 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.24 m
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 400
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 3
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake at a depth of 13 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.24 m (Shantou, China).
3 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records 1 deaths.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
3Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 China | 2 | 0.24 m Shantou | — | — |
| Taiwan | 1 | 0.19 m Peng-Hu | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
3 / 3Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shantou | 0.24 m | 220 km | China |
| Peng-Hu | 0.19 m | 144 km | Taiwan |
| Dongshan, Fujian Province | 0.13 m | 185 km | China |
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.