Top 10 Deadliest Tsunamis

Top 10 Deadliest Tsunamis

A tsunami is a series of waves created when a body of water, such as an ocean, is rapidly displaced. Earthquakes, mass movements above or below water, some volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions, landslides, underwater earthquakes, large asteroid impacts and detonation of nuclear weapons at sea all have the potential to generate a tsunami. Due to the immense volumes of water and energy involved, the effects of tsunami can be devastating. Since meteorites are small, they will not generate tsunami.

RankLocation Death Toll Event Year 
1Indonesia350,0002004 Indian Ocean earthquake/tsunami2004 
2Portugal, Morocco, Ireland, and the United Kingdom100,0001755 Lisbon earthquake/tsunami/fire1755 
3Messina, Italy100,0001908 Messina earthquake/tsunami1908 
4Indonesia36,000caused by 1883 Krakatoa eruption1883 
5Tokaido/Nankaido, Japan30,000Tsunami1707 
6Japan27,000Tsunami1826 
7Arica, Chile25,6741868 Arica earthquake/tsunami1868 
8Sanriku, Japan22,070Tsunami1896 
9Kyushu, Japan15,030Mount Unzen eruption1792 
10Ryukyu Trench13,486Tsunami1771 
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Top 10 Deadliest Tsunamis
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