10 biggest tsunamis in human history

1) Tsunami in Southeast Asia - 12/26/2004
Giant waves formed by a powerful underwater earthquake with a magnitude of 9.3 on the Richter scale. Waves of gigantic height hit the coasts of several countries in Southeast Asia at different times and even reached the shores of West Africa. The global warning system did not save from the destructive wave, despite the fact that American satellites detected the beginning of the tsunami 15 minutes after the earthquake. American meteorologists were unable to report the tragedy that claimed the lives of approximately 300 thousand people. American politicians took the rap for them, delivering humanitarian aid and declaring that helping the affected countries was in the political interests of the United States.

2) Alaska, USA – 03/28/1964
On March 28, 1964, at 5:30 p.m., an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.2 Richter occurred in Prince William Sound. It was the most powerful earthquake in Alaska - it has been compared to an explosion equivalent to 12,000 atomic bombs! The disaster led to the death of 122 people, most of them missing - most likely, they were washed away by water. The tsunami waves reached 67 meters - this is the maximum recorded height.
On “Blessed Easter Friday,” a high wave wiped out 3 Alaskan villages, killing 107 people. 4 people died in Oregon and 11 people in California. This happened while a giant wave was passing along the West Coast of the United States. The city of Valdez was completely destroyed, most of the office and business buildings in the center of Anchorage were completely destroyed. Fish and crab processing plants on Kodiak Island looked as if they had been hit by a series of explosions.

3) Lituya Bay, (southwest Alaska, USA) – 07/9/1958
The Fairweather Fault earthquake triggered a massive landslide from the mountainside above Lituya Bay (more than three hundred million cubic meters of rock, soil and ice). This gigantic mass fell into the waters of the northern part of the bay and caused a giant wave 52.4 meters high, traveling at a speed of 160 km/h.

4) Izu and Miyake Islands (eastern Japan) – 01/09/2005
In 2005, an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale occurred on the eastern shores of Japan. Japan's meteorological services reported the approach of a tsunami about 10 minutes after the first underwater tremors.
After the alarm sounded, rescue services evacuated residents of the Izu Islands from the coast to safer places, with the exception of special observers. It took about 30 minutes for the wave to reach Miyake Island. According to experts, such a fast wave, even half a meter high, could be a threat to people.

5) Severo-Kurilsk (USSR) – 11/5/1952
In the fall of 1952, the eastern coast of Kamchatka, the islands of Paramushir and Shumshu, found themselves on the path of a raging disaster. The 1952 tsunami in Severno-Kurilsk is recognized as one of the five largest in the history of the 20th century.
Severo-Kurilsk was completely destroyed. The Kuril and Kamchatka villages of Levashovo, Utesny, Pribrezhny, Reefovy, Kamenisty, Galkino, Podgorny, Okeansky, Major Van, Shelekhovo, Baykovo, Savushkino, Kozyrevsky, Babushkino were razed to the ground...
That autumn of 1952, the country suspected nothing. The Soviet press did not receive information about the tsunami in the Kuril Islands, or about the hundreds and thousands of dead and missing.
6) Alaska, (USA) – 03/9/1957
Another terrible tsunami caused by an earthquake in Alaska was on March 9, 1957 on the Andrean Islands. The earthquake reached 9.1 on the Richter scale. The shocks generated two whole tsunamis, the approximate wave heights reached 15 and 8 meters, respectively. The disaster claimed the lives of 300 people. The earthquake triggered the eruption of the Vsevidov volcano on the island of Umnak, which had been dormant for more than 200 years.
The consequences of the tremors were also felt on the island of Andrianova Spit, where buildings were damaged, two bridges were destroyed, and roads were cracked. The subsequent tsunami caused more global destruction; it reached the Hawaiian Islands, the coasts of California, Japan and Chile. In Hawaii, two villages were completely wiped off the face of the earth, causing property damage of $5 million.

7) Papua New Guinea – 07/17/1998
On the evening of July 17, an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale occurred in Papua New Guinea. The epicenter was located 640 km from the coast in the open ocean, just opposite the small town of Aitape. The tremors were practically not felt on land. Several people woke up, but hardly paid much attention. After 15-20 minutes, the first of 3 giant waves hit the island.
Retreating, the waves dragged people, cars and buildings along with them. The weak houses could not withstand the pressure of the waves; they were also dragged into the ocean. 2200 people died.

8) Concepcion Chile – 02/27/2010
An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale was recorded 115 kilometers north of the city of Concepcion, located close to the center. The earthquake caused great destruction. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that the tremors caused a tsunami. Experts clarified that the waves reached three meters in height. The number of victims reaches 300 people.

9) Solomon Islands (archipelago) – 04/2/2007
On April 2, 2007, at 7 a.m. local time, an earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale occurred in the South Pacific Ocean. The tremors were recorded near the Solomon Islands at a depth of ten kilometers.
A number of countries in the South Pacific have issued tsunami warnings. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center announced the possibility of waves near the Solomon Islands and the nearby island of New Guinea. A low threat level was declared for other states in the South Pacific. There was no evacuation.

10) Coast of Japan – 09/06/2004
110 km from the coastal part of the Kii Peninsula and 130 km from the coast of Kochi Prefecture, two fairly strong earthquakes struck, with a power of about 6.8 and 7.3 on the Richter scale, which resulted in a tsunami. The waves reached a meter in height. Several dozen people became victims of the water disaster.

The worst earthquake and tsunami in the last decade occurred in Japan in 2011 ().