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Volcanic Tsunamis - John Seach
How Do Volcanoes Produce Tsunamis?
Volcanoes produce tsunamis through nine different mechanisms. Volcanic earthquakes, undersea eruptions, pyroclastic flows, caldera collapse, landslides, lahars, phreatomagmatic eruptions, lava bench collapse, and airwaves from large explosions.
Waves produced by volcanic tsunamis can be as high as those produced by the largest earthquakes. The most devastating volcanic tsunami recorded was that produced by the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. The waves had runup heights of 40 m and killed 36,000 people.
Tsunami Date |
Volcano |
Comments |
1638 BC |
Santorini (Greece) |
Waves 50 m. Destroyed population on Crete. |
79 |
Vesuvius (Italy) |
Caused by caldera collapse. |
1640 |
Komaga-take (Japan) |
Caused by volcanic earthquake. |
1660 |
Long Island (Papua New Guinea) |
Deaths from tsunami. |
1693 |
Hekla (Iceland) |
Tsunami caused by volcanic earthquake. |
1715 |
Taal (Philippines) |
Tsunami caused by base surge. |
1741 |
Oshima-Oshima (Japan) |
Mag 6.9 volcanic earthquake caused tsunami. |
1749 |
Taal (Philippines) |
Tsunami caused by base surge. |
1754 |
Taal (Philippines) |
Tsunami caused by volcanic earthquake. |
1780 |
Sakura-jima (Japan) |
Wave 6 m. |
1792 |
Unzen (Japan) |
Waves 55 m. Caused by avalanche. Over 10,000 killed. |
1815 |
Tambora (Indonesia) |
Waves over 10 m. Caused by pyroclastic flows. Over 10,000 killed. |
1827 |
Avachinsky (Russia) |
Tsunami caused by volcanic earthquake. |
1845 |
Soputan (Indonesia) |
Tsunami caused by volcanic earthquake. |
1871 |
Ruang (Indonesia) |
Wave 26 m. Caused by pyroclastic flow. |
1878 |
Yasur (Vanuatu) |
Wave 16 m. Caused by volcanic earthquake. |
1878 |
Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) |
Wave 4 m. |
1878 |
Okmok (Alaska) |
Caused by volcanic earthquake. |
1883 |
Augustine (Alaska) |
Waves 9 m. Caused by avalanche. |
1883 |
Krakatoa (Indonesia) |
Waves 40 m. lethal volcanic tsunami on record with 36,000 killed. |
1888 |
Ritter (Papua New Guniea) |
Waves 12 m. Casued by avalanche. Many killed. |
1889 |
Banua Wuhu (Indonesia) |
Tsunami caused by volcanic earthquake. |
1889 |
Banua Wuhu (Indonesia) |
Unknown wave height. |
1892 |
Awu (Japan) |
Pyroclastic flow generated tsunami. |
1902 |
St Vincent (Caribbean) |
Pyroclastic flow generated tsunami. |
1902 |
Pelee (Caribbean) |
Pyroclastic flow generated tsunami. |
1906-07 |
Savai'i (Samoa) |
Tsunamis caused by lava entering the sea. |
1911 |
Taal (Philippines) |
Tsunami caused by base surge. |
1913 |
Ambrym (Vanuatu) |
Underwater eruption. |
1913 |
Taal (Philippines) |
Unknown wave height. |
1915 |
Bayonnaise Rocks (Myojin Reef) Japan |
Unknown wave height. |
1928 |
Paluweh (Indonesia) |
Waves 10 m. Caused by avalanche. 150 killed. |
1929 |
Anak Krakatau (Indonesia) |
Wave 4 m. |
1930 |
Stromboli (Italy) |
Wave 2 m. Caused by volcanic earthquake and landslide. |
1933 |
Severgin (Kurile Islands) |
Waves 10 m. Caused by volcanic earthquakes. |
1937 |
Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) |
Wave over 4 m, caused by volcanic earthquake. |
1951 |
Kavachi (Solomon Islands) |
Unknown wave height. |
1952 |
Bayonnaise Rocks (Myojin Reef) Japan |
Submarine eruption. Wave 2 m. |
1953 |
Tuluman (Papua New Guinea) |
Small wave. |
1956 |
Bezymianny (Russia) |
Tsunami caused by shockwave. |
1965 |
Taal (Philippines) |
Tsunami caused by base surge. |
1969 |
Didicas (Philippines) |
Three killed. |
1971 |
Tinakula (Solomon Islands) |
Unknown wave height. |
1972 |
Ritter (Papua New Guniea) |
Subsidence. Small tsunamis. |
1974 |
Ritter (Papua New Guniea) |
Subsidence. Small tsunamis. |
1979 |
Illiwerung (Indonesia) |
Waves 9 m. Caused by avalanche. Over 500 killed. |
1980's |
Ruapehu (New Zealand) |
Wave < 2 m. |
1980 |
St Helens (USA) |
Waves 260 m. Caused by avalanche into lake. |
1983 |
Illiwerung (Indonesia) |
Submarine eruption. Some deaths. |
1986 |
Nyos (Cameroon) |
Waves 75 m. Caused by underwater eruption of CO2. |
1988 |
Vulcano (Italy) |
Waves 5.5 m. Caused by avalanche. |
1994 |
Rabaul (Papua New Guinea) |
Wave 1.2 m. Caused by pyroclastic flow. |
1996 |
Karymsky (Russia) |
Waves 30 m. Caused by phreatomagmatic eruption. |
1997 |
Soufriere Hills (Montserrat) |
Waves 3 m. Caused by volcanic debris slide. |
2002 |
Stromboli (Italy) |
Landslide. |
Various years |
Kick 'em Jenny (Caribbean) |
Waves 5 m. Caused by underwater eruption. |
Undated |
Augustine (Alaska) |
Pyroclastic flow generated tsunami. |