What is the highest tsunami wave in history. The highest tsunami wave in history. What to do if you notice a wave is coming

A tsunami is a huge wave that moves the entire water column. The causes of this phenomenon may be the impact of celestial bodies that have fallen into the ocean waters, landslides, human actions (for example, nuclear tests) and earthquakes. It was precisely earthquakes that became powerful impulses for the appearance of waves of destructive action, which represented the largest tsunami in the world. Where were such phenomena recorded, and what consequences were they characterized by?

Lituya Bay: the highest wave in history (1958)

The highest wave ever observed was in 1958 in Alaska. Its occurrence was associated with an earthquake, followed by a further landslide. Stone and ice masses fell from rocky cliffs into the water, which caused a huge wave of 524 meters. The tsunami completely washed away the La Gaussy spit, which served as a separator between the main water area of ​​the bay and Gilbert Bay.

Tsunami: Indian Ocean (2004)

This is the largest tsunami in the world, known for having a history of devastating waves that destroy many settlements and cause the death of many people. It swept through fourteen countries located near the Indian Ocean, became the most deadly and destructive in terms of its strength, since it caused the death of over 230,000 people. Most of the victims of the huge waves were in India, Thailand, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.

It all started with an underwater earthquake, which was equal to 9.3 points. It provoked the emergence of incredibly high waves (their height was 30 meters), which bring destruction and death. Fifteen minutes after the tremors, coastal zones were flooded with large waves. But thanks to the accumulated knowledge about the tsunami, some people living here managed to save their lives, although most of the settlements located on the coasts were taken by surprise, which led to mass casualties of the elements.

Tohuku (2011)

The 40-meter tsunami waves that hit Japan and are the consequences of an earthquake of 9 points led to very sad results - the number of dead and missing people was approximately 25,000 people, about 125,000 buildings were destroyed. And the worst thing was that the nuclear power plant was damaged, which became a real disaster on an international scale. And today, the consequences of what happened have not yet been fully studied, but then increased radioactive radiation was detected even at a distance of 200 miles from the power plant.

Tsunami of Valdivia (Chile, 1960)

The strongest tremors (9.5 points) off the southern Chilean coast led to the awakening of the hibernation of the volcano and the emergence of huge waves of destructive force. They were 25 meters high. The impact of the tsunami was experienced not only by different regions of Valdivia, but also by Hawaii and Japan. This large tsunami swept across the Pacific Ocean, then claimed the lives of 60 people living in Hawaii. After the devastating impact on Hawaii, huge waves appeared in Japan, claiming an additional 140 lives. In total, 6,000 deaths were counted in this natural disaster.

Tsunami: Moro Bay (1976)

This tsunami was no less devastating and caused the death of 5,000 people, and approximately 2,200 more are considered missing without a trace. 90,000 people living on the island of Mindanao (Philippines) were deprived of their homes. The height of the waves of this tsunami, which was the result of shocks of 7.9 points, was approximately 4.5 meters. Over the entire existence of the Philippines, the impact of these waves has become a huge disaster in its consequences, because many settlements simply disappeared.

Tsunami: Papua New Guinea (1998)

First, there was a 7-magnitude earthquake. No one could have imagined that it could lead to a tsunami. But after powerful tremors, a landslide appeared, and as a result, waves appeared, reaching a height of 15 meters. Huge waves, rushing to the coast, caused the death of more than 2,000 local residents, 10,000 people were deprived of their homes. Many settlements were badly destroyed by huge waves, and some were simply destroyed. However, after this tsunami, scientists obtained important information regarding the nature of the occurrence of destructive waves, which then could help prevent the death of many people in such natural disasters.

1) Tsunami in Southeast Asia - 12/26/2004
Giant waves formed by a powerful underwater earthquake with a magnitude of 9.3 Richter. Waves of gigantic heights crashed at different times on the coasts of several countries in Southeast Asia 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 could not report the tragedy that claimed the lives of about 300 thousand people. American politicians took the rap for them, delivering humanitarian aid and declaring that assistance to 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 of magnitude 9.2 Richter struck the Prince William Sound. It was the most powerful earthquake in Alaska - it is compared with the explosion of the equivalent of 12,000 atomic bombs! The disaster resulted in the death of 122 people, most of them went missing - most likely, they were washed away by water. Tsunami waves reached 67 meters - this is the maximum recorded height.
On "Blessed Easter Friday", the highest wave wiped out 3 villages in Alaska, where 107 people died. 4 people died in Oregon and 11 people in California. This happened when a giant wave passed 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. The fish and crab factories on Kodiak Island looked like they had been hit by a series of explosions.

3) Lituya Bay, (southwest Alaska, USA) - 07/09/1958
An earthquake on the Fairweather Fault triggered a massive landslide from the side of a mountain located above Lituya Bay (more than three hundred million cubic meters of rocks, soil and ice). This giant mass crashed into the waters of the northern part of the bay and caused a giant wave 52.4 meters high, moving at a speed of 160 km / h.

4) Izu and Miyake Islands (east of Japan) - 01/09/2005
In 2005, an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 on the Richter scale hit the eastern coast of Japan. The Japanese meteorological services reported the approach of the tsunami about 10 minutes after the first underwater tremors.
After the alarm was sounded, rescue services evacuated the inhabitants of the Izu Islands from the coast to safer places, with the exception of special observers. The wave traveled to Miyake Island for about 30 minutes. According to experts, such a fast wave, even with a height of half a meter, could be a threat to people.

5) Severo-Kurilsk (USSR) - 11/5/1952
In the autumn of 1952, the eastern coast of Kamchatka, the islands of Paramushir and Shumshu, were on the way to the raging elements. 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 settlements of Levashovo, Utesny, Coastal, Reef, Rocky, Galkino, Podgorny, Okeansky, Major Van, Shelekhovo, Baikovo, Savushkino, Kozyrevsky, Babushkino were razed to the ground ...
That autumn of 1952, the country suspected nothing. The Soviet press did not get information either about the tsunami in the Kuriles, or about hundreds and thousands of dead and missing.
6) Alaska, (USA) - 03/09/1957
Another terrible tsunami caused by an earthquake in Alaska - March 9, 1957 on the Andreanov Islands. The earthquake reached 9.1 on the Richter scale. The shocks generated as many as two tsunamis, the approximate height of the waves reached 15 and 8 meters, respectively. The storm claimed the lives of 300 people. The earthquake triggered the eruption of the Vsevidov volcano on Umnak Island, which had been dormant for more than 200 years.
The consequences of the shocks were also felt on the island of Andrianov's Spit, where damage was done to buildings, two bridges were destroyed, and roads cracked. More global damage was caused by the subsequent tsunami, it reached the Hawaiian Islands, the coast of California, Japan and Chile. In Hawaii, two villages were completely wiped off the face of the earth, material damage amounted to $ 5 million.

7) Papua New Guinea - 07/17/1998
On the evening of July 17, an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale struck Papua New Guinea. The epicenter was 640 km from the coast in the open ocean, just opposite the small town of Aitape. The shocks were practically not felt on land. A few 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 behind them. Low-strength houses could not withstand the pressure of the waves, they were also dragged into the ocean. 2200 people died.

8) Concepción Chile - 02/27/2010
An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 Richter was recorded 115 kilometers north of the city of Concepción, located close to the center. The earthquake brought great destruction. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center gave information that the tremors caused a tsunami. Experts specified that the waves reached a height of three meters. The number of victims reaches 300 people.

9) Solomon Islands (archipelago) - 2.04.2007
On April 2, 2007 at 7 am local time, an earthquake of magnitude 6.9 on the Richter scale hit the South Pacific Ocean. The tremors were recorded near the Solomon Islands at a depth of ten kilometers.
Tsunami warnings have been issued in several South Pacific countries. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center announced the possibility of a wave near the Solomon Islands and near the island of New Guinea. For other states of the South Pacific, a low level of threat was declared. There was no evacuation.

10) The coast of Japan - 09/06/2004
110 km from the coast of the Kii Peninsula and 130 km from the coast of Kochi Prefecture, two rather strong earthquakes struck, with a power of about 6.8 and 7.3 on the Richter scale, which caused a tsunami. The waves reached a meter height. Several dozen people became victims of the water element.

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

A tsunami is a wave that moves a large amount of water at all depths, caused by an impact on the entire water column. Cause big
Tsunamis often result in a significant number of casualties for several reasons:
During a storm, only the near-surface layer of water comes into motion, during a tsunami - the entire thickness. And much larger masses of water splash out onto the shore during a tsunami.
The speed of tsunami waves, even near the coast, exceeds the speed of wind waves. Tsunami waves have more kinetic energy.
A tsunami, as a rule, generates not one, but several waves. The first wave, not necessarily the largest, wets the surface, reducing the resistance for subsequent waves.
The strength of a tsunami can increase in the harbor - where the wind waves are weakened, and therefore, residential buildings can stand close to the shore.
Lack of basic knowledge among the population about the possible danger. So, during the 2004 tsunami, when the sea receded from the shore, many local residents remained on the shore - out of curiosity or out of a desire to collect fish that did not have time to leave. In addition, after the first wave, many returned to their homes - to assess the damage or try to find loved ones, not knowing about subsequent waves.

1 Tsunami that occurred on December 26, 2004 Southeast Asia.

At 00:58 a powerful earthquake occurred - the second most powerful of all recorded (magnitude 9.3), which caused the most powerful of all known tsunamis.

Asian countries (Indonesia - 180 thousand people, Sri Lanka - 31-39 thousand people, Thailand - more than 5 thousand people, etc.) and African Somalia suffered from the tsunami. The total number of deaths exceeded 235 thousand people.

2 Tsunami that occurred on 03/28/1964 Alaska, (USA).

The largest earthquake in Alaska (magnitude 9.2), which occurred in the Prince William Sound, caused a tsunami of several waves, with the highest height - 67 meters. As a result of the disaster (mainly due to the tsunami), according to various estimates, from 120 to 150 people died.

3 Tsunami that occurred on July 9, 1958 in Lituya Bay, (southwest Alaska, USA).

An earthquake that occurred north of the bay (on the Fairweather fault) initiated a strong landslide on the slope of the mountain located above Lituya Bay (about 300 million cubic meters of earth, stones and ice). All this mass filled up the northern part of the bay and caused a huge wave 52.4 meters high, moving at a speed of 160 km/h.

4 Tsunami that occurred on 01/09/2005 on the islands of Izu and Miyake (eastern Japan)

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 caused a tsunami with a wave height of 30-50 m. However, thanks to a timely warning, the population from dangerous areas was evacuated.

It was caused by a powerful earthquake (magnitude estimates vary from 8.3 to 9 according to various sources), which occurred in the Pacific Ocean 130 kilometers from the coast of Kamchatka. Three waves up to 15-18 meters high (according to various sources) destroyed the city of Severo-Kurilsk and caused damage to a number of other settlements. According to official figures, more than two thousand people died.

6 Tsunami that occurred on March 9, 1957 Alaska, (USA).

Caused by an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 that occurred on the Andreyanovsky Islands (Alaska), which caused two waves, with an average wave height of 15 and 8 meters, respectively. In addition, as a result of the earthquake, the Vsevidov volcano woke up, located in Umnak and had not erupted for about 200 years. More than 300 people died in the disaster.

7 Tsunami that occurred on 07/17/1998 Papua New Guinea

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake off the northwestern coast of New Guinea triggered a powerful underwater landslide that triggered a tsunami that killed more than 2,000 people.

8 Tsunami occurred on 27.02.2010 Concepción Chile

Earthquakes of magnitude 8.8 were recorded at 03.34 local time, 115 kilometers north of the city of Concepción, located in the central part of the country, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that the tremors provoked a tsunami. Experts specify that the wave height reached almost three meters. The number of victims reached 100 people.

9 Tsunami occurred on 2.04.2007 Solomon Islands (archipelago)

Caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake in the South Pacific. Waves several meters high reached New Guinea. The tsunami killed 52 people.

10 Tsunami that occurred on 09/06/2004 coast of Japan

Two strong earthquakes (magnitudes up to 6.8 and 7.3, respectively) occurred 110 km off the coast of the Kii Peninsula and 130 km off the coast of Kochi Prefecture, causing a tsunami with a wave height of up to one meter. Several dozen people were injured.

Tsunamis produced by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are considered the most dangerous natural phenomena on Earth. In the past two decades alone, giant waves and tremors have combined to kill 55% of the 1.35 million people who have died from natural disasters. Throughout its history, mankind has experienced many such disasters, but in this article we bring to your attention the ten most destructive and deadly tsunamis ever recorded on our planet.

1. Sumatra (Indonesia), December 24, 2004

At the end of December 2004, off the coast of Sumatra, at a depth of about 30 km, there was a powerful earthquake of magnitude 9.1, caused by a vertical displacement of the seabed. As a result of the seismic event, a large wave with a width of about 1300 km was formed, which, as it approached the coast, reached a height of 15 meters. A giant wall of water hit the shores of Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and several other states, leaving between 225,000 and 300,000 dead. Many people were swept into the ocean, so the exact numbers of deaths are unlikely to ever be known. According to general estimates, the damage from the disaster amounted to about 10 billion US dollars.

2. Pacific Northwest (Japan), March 11, 2011

On March 11, 2011, a huge 10-meter wave moving at a speed of 800 km/h swept over the east coast of Japan and led to the death or disappearance of over 18,000 people. The reason for its appearance was an earthquake of magnitude 9.0, which occurred at a depth of 32 km east of the island of Honshu. Some 452,000 Japanese survivors were moved to temporary shelters. Many live in them to this day. The earthquake and tsunami caused an accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, after which significant radioactive releases occurred. The total damage amounted to $235 billion.

3. Lisbon (Portugal), November 1, 1755

An earthquake of magnitude 8.5 in the Atlantic caused a series of three huge waves that covered the Portuguese capital and a number of coastal cities in Portugal, Spain and Morocco. In some places, the height of the tsunami reached 30 meters. The waves crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached Barbados, where their height was 1.5 meters. Overall, the tremor and subsequent tsunami killed about 60,000 people.

4. Krakatoa (Indonesia), August 27, 1883

The volcanic eruption in 1883 was one of the largest in modern human history. The explosions of the giant were so powerful that they caused high waves that flooded the surrounding islands. After the volcano split and collapsed into the ocean, the largest tsunami 36 meters high was formed, destroying over 160 villages on the islands of Sumatra and Java. Of the more than 36,000 who died during the eruption, over 90% of the people were victims of the tsunami.

5. Nankaido (Japan), September 20, 1498

According to general estimates, the earthquake that shook the islands in the southeast of Japan had a magnitude of at least 8.4. A seismic event led to a tsunami that hit the Japanese provinces of Kii, Awaji and the coast of the island of Shikoku. The waves were strong enough to demolish the isthmus that previously separated Lake Hamana from the ocean. Flooding was observed throughout the historical region of Nankaido, and the death toll reached, presumably, from 26,000 to 31,000 people.

6. Nankaido (Japan), October 28, 1707

Another devastating tsunami, caused by an earthquake of magnitude 8.4, hit Japan's Nankaido in 1707. The wave height was 25 meters. The settlements on the coast of Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu were damaged, and the large Japanese city of Osaka was also damaged. The disaster resulted in the destruction of over 30,000 homes and the death of about 30,000 people. It is estimated that about a dozen tsunamis hit Japan that day in just 1 hour, some of them traveled several kilometers inland.

7. Sanriku (Japan), June 15, 1896

The tsunami in the northeastern part of the island of Honshu was caused by an earthquake of magnitude 7.2, caused by a shift in the lithospheric plates in the area of ​​the Japan Trench. After the earthquake, the Sanriku region was hit by two waves one after the other, rising to a height of up to 38 meters. Since the arrival of the water coincided with the tide, the damage from the disaster was incredibly high. More than 22,00 people died and over 9,000 buildings were destroyed. The tsunami also reached the Hawaiian Islands, but here their height was much less - about 9 meters.

8. Northern Chile, August 13, 1868

The tsunami in northern Chile (at that time off the coast of Arica in Peru) was caused by a series of two large-scale earthquakes of magnitude 8.5. Waves up to 21 meters high flooded the entire Asia-Pacific region and reached the Australian Sydney. The waters crashed onto the banks for 2 or 3 days, eventually resulting in 25,000 deaths and $300 million worth of damage.

9. Ryukyu (Japan), April 24, 1771

Boulders thrown by the tsunami

An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 caused a tsunami that flooded many Japanese islands. Ishigaki and Miyako suffered the most, where the wave height reached 11 to 15 meters. The disaster resulted in the destruction of 3,137 houses and the death of about 12,000 people.

10. Ise Bay (Japan), January 18, 1586

Ise Bay today

The earthquake that caused the tsunami in Ise Bay on the island of Honshu received a magnitude of 8.2. Waves rose to a height of 6 meters, causing damage to settlements on the coast. The city of Nagahama suffered not only from water, but also from fires that broke out after the earthquake and destroyed half of the buildings. The tsunami in the bay killed more than 8,000 people.

Tsunami statistics demonstrate the destructive power of this natural phenomenon. Japan in 2016 was covered by a tsunami with a wave height of up to 1.5 m, which reached the Fukushima-1 nuclear power plant, which is in emergency condition.

This natural phenomenon is associated with the movement of the Earth's lithospheric plates. raises one plate above another. The condition for the formation of a wave is a significant movement along the vertical of this section of the seabed. The magnitude of the wave rise at the place of movement is related not only to the distance that the plate has risen, but also to the strength of the seismic shock.

According to the laws of physics, unevenly high columns of liquid along the edges of the fault are an unstable system. Therefore, the pillars are aligned due to the formation of a wave, “overflowing” from a high column to a low one. The atmosphere is also involved in restoring disturbed equilibrium. Directed winds (hurricanes) tend to move the volume of "raised" water in the direction of its "fall".

From the point of view of wave phenomena, the occurrence of a tsunami is associated with the formation of long waves with a high speed of movement. At the same time, the propagation of waves in the open sea contributes to their attenuation, but this does not happen in the case of a long tectonic fault. Conditions for the formation of a tsunami:

• the bottom section should move vertically to a considerable height;
• the tectonic fault should have a large extent (with a small source, the waves will die out before reaching the shore);
• the rate of rise of the ocean floor section must be high (otherwise the rise of the wave is gently compensated).

The occurrence of a tsunami as a result of an earthquake is a frequent variant of this phenomenon.

Where do waves of destructive force come from

Earthquakes are common causes of tsunamis. The tsunami does not depend on the strength of the earthquake, since the shifts are not always noticeable in the deep waters of the ocean. Other reasons (7%) and some (5%). In 1883, due to the volcano Krakatau, which exploded near the island of Java, tsunami waves killed 36,000 people.

The most dangerous earthquakes with seismic activity 12 points. But for 10 years, this has not been observed. In addition to natural tsunamis, huge waves can be caused by human activities, such as a nuclear explosion in the ocean or sea. The formation of waves can also be associated with the fall of a large meteorite. Recently, an opinion has arisen that an iceberg falling into the water can raise a wave comparable to a tsunami.

Phenomenon classification

Tsunami statistics classify their types differently, dividing them by intensity, wave height, origin and number of victims.

Unlike surface waves, which can be generated by strong winds or storms, ocean tsunamis form from the bottom to the top. A huge volume of water is displaced. The height of the wave is greater, the greater the depth of the ocean.

A tsunami in the ocean does not pose a serious danger, since most of the wave is underwater. As the shore approaches, the danger increases along with the magnitude of the wave. In shallow water, the back waves catch up with the front ones, and the superposition of one on top of the other causes an increase in height, in some cases up to 50 meters.

The dangerous factor is the speed of the tsunami. It averages 400-500 km per hour, and in the Pacific Ocean it can reach 800 km per hour.

Before the first powerful wave, a low tide may occur, misleading people resting off the coast. A rapidly approaching wave crashes down on the coast and rolls back. However, the maximum tsunami height does not fall on the first wave. After two or three hours, the next flow of water floods the seashore and penetrates several kilometers deep, demolishing buildings, people and animals. Sometimes a wave breaks on land for 10 km or more.

The most destructive waves in history

Catastrophes associated with the flooding of coastal zones, as tsunami statistics show, have occurred in the world more than once. The most destructive waves in the history of mankind are presented by year in the table:

The last tsunami in Thailand in 2004, which originated in South Asia, reached the coast of Africa and flooded the coastal zone of Somalia. Waves covered the western part of Thailand. The devastating tsunami in Phuket destroyed the entire infrastructure of the resort town.

The waves swept away Karon Beach and other world-famous holiday destinations (Patong, Kamala and Kata). The approaching wave in Phuket was not immediately visible, so especially many tourists died in the coastal zone. The number of victims in Thailand has reached 8.5 thousand people. Coastal areas in Sri Lanka were flooded for tens of kilometers. This tsunami in India and Indonesia flooded densely populated shores, destroying people and buildings.

There was much less destruction in the Maldives, scientists believe that the coral reefs surrounding the islands are a natural defense against high waves.

Characteristics of a tsunami

As tsunami statistics show, the danger of this phenomenon is largely related to the speed of events. There is a relationship between characteristics and consequences. The main characteristics of the tsunami:

• tsunami wave speed and height;
• wavelength (segment between two waves);
• wave period (time interval between the passage of two waves).

The degree of destruction and the number of victims depend on all these parameters.

Why are water shafts dangerous?

A rapidly advancing tsunami carries an air stream in front of it, comparable in strength to a blast wave. Possible consequences of a tsunami:

• powerful waves destroy everything in their path and flood the territory. The resulting flood from the tsunami contributes to the further destruction of buildings. pollute the soil and drinking water with foreign substances, contributing to the development of infectious diseases;
• destruction of buildings and communications;
• death of people and animals;
• the destruction of sea vessels standing near the shore;
• destruction of soil cover and .

Natural disaster protection

Tsunami statistics show that it is impossible to prevent. Only a few mitigation measures are available:

• the prediction of the onset of a wave is associated with the observation of seismic activity;
• constant monitoring of the movement of the shafts;
• informing the population by all available means;
• timely evacuation of people and animals;
• construction of hydraulic structures, in the risk zone of high waves.

Natural disasters bring losses to the state. And for people, the economy and nature, sometimes irreparable consequences. Thousands of tsunami victims over the past 10 years are a disappointing statistic.

Many people die because of ignorance and wrong actions. Evidence of this are the videos of eyewitnesses, of which not all of them survived the onset of the elements, busy shooting a bright phenomenon. Such a frivolous attitude to danger is distinguished by a belated sense of self-preservation.

How to escape from a tsunami? The emerging tsunami threat requires rapid mobilization. Collection of documents and personal belongings should be done as soon as possible. It is optimal to move inland to an elevation, at least 2–3 km from the coast.

The coastal zone receives the strongest blow from the elements. If you are on the beach, then you need to find shelter in a building on a hill, be sure to be strong. While indoors, you need to close all windows and doors and move to a high floor.

If the wave caught in the sea, you need to get together and cover your head with your hands, taking a deep breath, then emerge and throw off excess clothes. After waiting for the return wave, you need to find shelter and hide. As a protection against a tsunami on the shore, a powerful tree or a solid building can act, behind which you can hide.

When going on vacation to the countries neighboring the Pacific Ocean, it is useful to get information about the actions in case of a tsunami and the existing warning system. Usually people become victims of a tsunami, and curious tourists are caught off guard, collecting shells during low tide, preceding a powerful wave. The number of destructive waves over the past 10 years has increased worldwide.

The last tsunami in Cyprus occurred in 1908. Scientists believe that destructive waves form in the Mediterranean Sea once every 100 years. The same is true in Greece, Turkey and other countries washed by this sea. It is generally accepted that Australia is vulnerable to a tsunami from the east coast of the Pacific Ocean.

In 2016, there was a powerful earthquake in New Zealand, which caused a wave of 2.5 meters that hit the shores. An infrequent guest of the tsunami in the Dominican Republic. To understand in what years there were tsunamis in this country, let's turn to history:

• a powerful earthquake in 1751 caused the most tragic destruction, including from high water masses;
• 1842 waves reached 2 meters;
• 1946 the northern coast of the country was destroyed, five-meter waves flooded the coast, 1950 people died.

The latest tsunami statistics do not include this area among the most dangerous. Natural disasters in the Far East are a fairly common thing due to its location. Waves covered coastal areas in 1923, 1952 and 1960. Excavations by scientists found that 8,000 years ago, volcanic eruptions caused more than 50 megatsunamis in the region.