The energy released by volcanoes can be transferred as a perilous wave provided there is a large body of water nearby.

The table on the left has a few examples of eruptions that resulted in a tsunami. More detail on selected volcanoes that have produced tsunamis are found in the links to the right.

(By J. Keeley, 2010)

Tonga

Photo Courtesy: AFP

                                    Noteworthy Volcanic Tsunamis:

        

Date of Tsunami

Volcano Location

Tsunami Cause and Impact

1638 BC

Santorini, Greece

  • Destruction of the population of Crete

79 AD

Vesuvius, Italy

  • Caldera collapse
  • Unknown devastation

1631

Vesuvius, Italy

  • Worst Vesuvius tsunami
  • Result of subplinian eruption
  • Many boats destroyed

1640

Komagatake, Japan 

  • Summit collapse from landslide
  • 700 people killed

1715

Taal, Philippines

  • Base surge-induced tsunami

1741

Oshima-Oshima, Japan

  • Volcanic earthquake
  • 1,467 people killed

1749

Taal, Philippines

  • Base sure-induced tsunami

1792

Unzen, Japan

  • Landslide from nearby Mt Mayuyama
  • 55m tsunami waves
  • Around 15,000 people killed

1815

Tambora, Indonesia

  • Pyroclastic flows entering sea
  • Waves over 10m
  • Over 10,000 people dead

1871

Ruang, Indonesia

  • Pyroclastic flow
  • 26m waves

1878

Yasur, Vanuata

  • Volcanic earthquake
  • 16m waves

1878

Okmok, Alaska, USA

  • Volcanic earthquake-induced

1883

Augustine, Alaska, USA

  • Volcanic landslide
  • 9m waves

1883

Krakatau, Indonesia

  • 40m waves
  • 36,000 people dead

1888

Ritter, Papua new Guinea

  • Volcano collapse and avalanche
  • 15m waves
  • Hundreds killed on shoreline

1902

Pelee, Carribean

  • Pyroclastic flow-induced

1913

Ambrym, Vanuatu

  • Underwater eruption

1928

Paluweh, Indonesia

  • Volcanic landslide
  • 10m waves
  • 150 people killed

1930

Stromboli, Italy

  • Volcanic earthquake and landslide
  • 2m waves

1933

Severgin, Kurile Islands

  • Volcanic earthquake
  • 10m tsunami waves

1956

Bezymianny, Russia

  • Shockwave-induced tsunami

1969

Didicas, Philippines

  • 3 people killed

1972, 1974

Ritter, Papua New Guinea

  • Small tsunamis from subsidence of volcano

1979

Illiwerung, Indonesia

  • Volcanic landslide
  • 9m waves
  • Over 500 people dead

1980

St Helens, Washington, USA

  • Volcanic landslide
  • 250m waves in Spirit Lake

1983

Illiwerung, Indonesia

  • Submarine eruption
  • Few deaths

1986

Nyos, Cameroon

  • Underwater CO2 eruption
  • 75m tsunami waves

1988

Vulcano, Italy

  • Volcanic landslide
  • 5.5m waves

1994

Rabaul, Papua New Guinea

  • Pyroclastic flow-induced
  • 1.2m waves

1996

Karymsky, Russia

  • Phreatomagmatic eruption
  • 30m waves

1997

Soufriere Hills, Montserrat

  • Volcanic debris slide
  • 3m waves

2002

Stromboli, Italy

  • Landslide-induced tsunami

2007

Ritter, Papua New Guinea

  • Eruption-induced landslide
  • Many homes destroyed