Historical tsunamis · May 4, 1820
1820 S. Mexico tsunami
Mexico
The tsunami of May 4, 1820 originated near S. Mexico (Mexico).
Key facts
- Date
- May 4, 1820
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Maximum documented water height
- 4.00 m
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 1
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake.
The highest documented water height was 4.00 m (Acapulco, Mexico).
1 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
1Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 1 | 4.00 m Acapulco | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
1 / 1Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acapulco · Guerrero | 4.00 m | 53 km | Mexico |
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.