Historical tsunamis · Sep 28, 1849, 9:00 AM UTC
1849 Kamchatka tsunami
Russia
The tsunami of Sep 28, 1849, 9:00 AM UTC originated near Kamchatka (Russia).
Key facts
- Date
- Sep 28, 1849, 9:00 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Maximum documented water height
- —
- Houses destroyed
- few (up to about 50)
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 3
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Earthquake.
4 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Houses destroyed: few (up to about 50).
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Samoa | 1 | 0.70 m Apia, Upolu Island | — | — |
| Russia | 2 | — | — | — |
 Vanuatu | 1 | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apia, Upolu Island | 0.70 m | 7,909 km | Samoa |
| Aneityum, Vanuatu Islands | — | 8,343 km | Vanuatu |
| Bering Island, Commander Islands · Kamchatka | — | 13 km | Russia |
| Medny Island, Commander Islands · Kamchatka | — | 105 km | Russia |
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.