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1946 Aleutian Tsunami On April 1st 1946, in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, an earthquake occurred. A tsunami was triggered by the earthquake, which had a surface-wave magnitude of 7.8, an epicenter of 52.8° N, 163.5° W, and a focal depth of 25 km. One of the structures affected by the tsunami was the newly built Scotch Cap Lighthouse on Unimak Island, Alaska, where 5 men lost their lives and the run-up reached 35 m. The Hawaiian Islands were one of the hardest hit locations by the tsunami. Hilo was the city that received the most damage on the Island of Hawaii. The tsunami arrived at Hilo 4.9 hours after it originated in the Aleutian Islands and the run-up was measured at 8.1 m. Hilo received $26 million in damage and 96 people died. The large number of deaths brought in the necessity of a warning system to ensure the safety of the populace. On August 12, 1948, a plan was approved and the Seismic Sea Wave Warning System was established. 1960 Chilean Tsunami On May 22nd 1960, an earthquake occurred off the coast of South Central Chile. A Pacific-wide tsunami was triggered by the earthquake, which had a surface-wave magnitude of 8.6, an epicenter of 39.5° S, 74.5° W, and a focal depth of 33 km. The number of fatalities associated with both the tsunami and the earthquake has been estimated to be between 490 to 2,290. Damage cost estimates were over a half billion dollars. Two hundred deaths were reported in the coastal area on Isla Chiloe, Chile, from the tsunami generated just off the coast by the magnitude 8.6 earthquake. The inhabitants took small boats to escape the shaking. The impact of the tsunami was shown only 10 to 15 minutes after the earthquake, along more than 500 m of the coast and all boats were lost. Damage costs were estimated at $24 million with 61 people dead. Hilo, on the main island of Hawaii, was the hardest hit city. The tsunami arrived 14.8 hrs after it originated off the coast of South Central Chile. Along the Peru-Chile coast, the estimated loss of lives from the tsunami ranged from 330 to 2000 people. Back (Preparing for the arrival of a tsunami) | Next (Tsunami main page) |