Historical tsunamis · Aug 23, 1817, 8:00 AM UTC
1817 Corinthos-Patras Gulf tsunami
Greece
The tsunami of Aug 23, 1817, 8:00 AM UTC originated near Corinthos-Patras Gulf (Greece).
Key facts
- Date
- Aug 23, 1817, 8:00 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.6
- Maximum documented water height
- 12.0 m
- Deaths
- 128
- Houses destroyed
- very many (over 1,000)
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake.
The highest documented water height was 12.0 m (Aiyion (Aigio), Greece).
4 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 128 deaths.
Houses destroyed: very many (over 1,000).
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
4Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | 4 | 12.0 m Aiyion (Aigio) | 18 | — |
Highest documented water heights
4 / 4Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aiyion (Aigio) | 12.00 m | 6 km | Greece |
| Cape Aliki | — | 84 km | Greece |
| Galaxidi | — | 26 km | Greece |
| Trizonia | — | 8 km | Greece |
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.