The strong ground motion reported in the Anchorage area lasted about 4-5 minutes
which triggered many avalanches and landslides - some being tsunamigenic. Ground
deformations were extensive with some areas east of Kodiak being raised by 30 feet and
areas about Portage being dropped by 8 feet (Pflaker, 1964). The rise is estimated to come
in two thrusts of about 5 meters each. The maximum intensity reported was XI on the
modified Mercalli Intensity scale, indicating major structural damage, and ground
fissures and failures. This scale is a 12-point one usually given in roman numerals
ranging from I, (not felt/no damage) to XII (total destruction many lives lost). From this
event, significant damage covered an area of about 50,000 square miles. Intensities of
IV-V (felt by most people/minor damage) were reported as far away as Cold Bay, Bethel,
McGrath, Kotzebue, Deadhorse, Ft. Yukon, Eagle and Skagway.
Tsunamis generated by the 1964 earthquake (and their subsequent damage, loss of life, etc.) were recorded throughout the Pacific (Lander and Lockridge, 1989). This was the most disastrous tsunami to hit the U.S. West Coast and British Columbia in Canada. The largest wave height for this tsunami was reported at Shoup Bay, Valdez Inlet (67 meters). Summary of lives lost and damage for Alaska, Canada, Washington, Oregon and California are: Alaska- 106 deaths and $84 million; British Columbia- $10 million; Washington- minor damage throughout the coast; Oregon- 4 deaths and $0.7 million, with much of the damage away from the coast where rivers overflowed; California- 13 deaths and $10 million damage. Many places that reported damage or lives lost are given below. To view the tsunami travel time map for the earthquake click here. Additionally, the single amplitude (0-peak) wave heights and/or tsunami runup in meters showing the various pacific-wide locations where tsunamis were recorded are given below.
LOCATION | DEATHS | DAMAGE | |
---|---|---|---|
VALDEZ, AK | 32 | DISASTROUS TO TOWN, BOATS DAMAGED, $15 MILLION, SECTION OF LAND 4000'X 600' SLID INTO SEA | |
SHOUP BAY, AK | 1 | CABIN DESTROYED (HIGHEST RECORDED WAVE) | |
CHENEGA, AK | 23 | VILLAGE DISTROYED | |
WHITTIER, AK | 12 | $10 MILLION DAMAGE, LOCAL TSUNAMI | |
SEWARD, AK | 12 | DISASTROUS TO TOWN, WATERFRONT, BOATS AND RAILROAD, $14 MILLION DAMAGE, SECTION OF A WATERFRONT SLID INTO A BAY | |
KAGUYAK, KODIAK, AK | 3 | THIRD WAVE DESTROYED A VILLAGE | |
OLD HARBOR, AK | 1 | VILLAGE NEARLY DESTROYED | |
KODIAK, AK | 8 | $31 MILLION DAMAGE, 158 HOUSES DESTROYED | |
WOMENS BAY, AK | 0 | $10.3 MILLION DAMAGE | |
AFOGNAK IS., AK | 0 | DAMAGE TO VILLAGES AND BOATS | |
OUZINKIE, AK | 0 | 7 STRUCTURES DESTROYED | |
KENAI PENINSULA, AK | 0 | DAMAGE TO WATERFRONT AND BOATS | |
SELDOVIA, AK | 0 | MUCH DAMAGE TO BOATS | |
HOMER, AK | 0 | HOMER SPIT FLOODED | |
CORDOVA, AK | 0 | $1.7 MILLION DAMAGE | |
PORT NELLIE JUAN,AK | 3 | DOCK DESTROYED | |
KALSIN BAY, AK | 6 | None | |
PORT ASHTON, AK | 1 | LITTLE DAMAGE | |
CAPE ST. ELIAS, AK | 1 | DAMAGE TO BOATS||
PT. NOWELL, AK | 1 | 2 CABINS DESTROYED | |
SPRUCE CAPE, AK | 1 | None | |
SITKA, AK | 0 | DOCK COLLAPSED | |
KLAWOCK, AK | 0 | PILINGS KNOCKED OUT FROM UNDER 3 HOUSES BY LOGS | |
MEARES PASSAGE, AK | 0 | BARGE BROKEN IN TWO | |
WHITSHED, AK | 1 | 10 CABINS DESTROYED | |
ALL OF ALASKA | 106 | ||
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA | 0 | $10 MILLION DAMAGE | |
WASHINGTON COAST | 0 | BOATS, HOUSES DAMAGED THROUGHOUT COAST, MANY INJURED | |
NEWPORT, OREGON | 4 | 4 CAMPERS ON BEACH DROWNED | |
CRESENT CITY, CA | 11 | $8 MILLION DAMAGE | |
KLAMATH RIVER, CA | 1 | 1 MAN DROWNED | |
SAN FRANSICO, CA | 0 | 10,000 PEOPLE LINE BEACH TO SEE TSUNAMI | |
MENDOCINO,CA | 0 | 100 BOATS DAMAGED | |
SAN RAPHEAL, CA | 0 | $600,000 IN DAMAGE TO HARBOR AND BOATS | |
KAHULI, MAUI, HI | 0 | $53,000 DAMAGE | |
HILO, HI | 0 | $15,000 DAMAGE | |
MISHO, EHIME, JAPAN | 0 | DAMAGE TO PEARL RAFT | |
SANRIKU COAST, JAPAN | 0 | DAMAGE TO OYSTER AND PEARL HARVEST |
IMPACT LOCATION | LATITUDE | LONGITUDE | HEIGHT | ******* | IMPACT LOCATION | LATITUDE | LONGITUDE | HEIGHT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALASKA, KETCHIKAN | 55.33N | 131.63W | 0.6 | ALASKA, CRAIG | 55.48N | 133.15W | 2.4 | |
ALASKA, JUNEAU | 58.30N | 134.42W | 1.1 | ALASKA, SITKA | 57.08N | 135.33W | 2.4 | |
ALASKA, YAKUTAT | 59.48N | 139.82W | 2.3 | ALASKA, CAPE YAKATAGA | 60.06N | 142.43W | 3.7 | |
ALASKA, CAPE ST. ELIAS | 59.80N | 144.60W | OBS | ALASKA, CORDOVA | 60.48N | 145.87W | 6.1 | |
ALASKA, WHITSHED | 60.48N | 145.90W | OBS | ALASKA, VALDEZ | 61.12N | 146.26W | 9.1 | |
ALASKA, SHOUP BAY | 61.12N | 146.59W | 67.0 | ALASKA, NOWELL | 60.44N | 147.94W | 12.0 | |
ALASKA, ASHTON | 60.05N | 148.00W | OBS | ALASKA, CHENEGA | 60.13N | 148.15W | 27.3 | |
ALASKA, PORT NELLIE JU | 60.56N | 148.18W | 15.0 | ALASKA, PUGET BAY | 59.91N | 148.51W | 10.7 | |
ALASKA, PASSAGE CANAL | 60.78N | 148.35W | 31.7 | ALASKA, BLACKSTONE BAY | 60.78N | 148.42W | 24.2 | |
ALASKA, WHITTER | 60.75N | 148.80W | 13.1 | ALASKA, WHIDBEY BAY | 59.91N | 148.91W | 10.7 | |
ALASKA, SEWARD | 60.11N | 149.42W | 9.2 | ALASKA, AIALIK BAY | 59.67N | 149.57W | 30.0 | |
ALASKA, SPRUCE CAPE | 57.90N | 150.35W | OBS | ALASKA, HALIBUT COVE | 59.34N | 151.50W | 7.2 | |
ALASKA, HOMER | 59.68N | 151.61W | 6.0 | ALASKA, SELDOVIA | 59.47N | 151.68W | 1.2 | |
ALASKA, PEARL IS. | 59.09N | 151.71W | 9.0 | ALASKA, AFOGNAK | 58.40N | 152.20W | OBS | |
ALASKA, NARROW CAPE | 57.43N | 152.33W | 19.0 | ALASKA, KALSIN BAY | 57.67N | 152.35W | OBS | |
ALASKA, KODIAK | 57.81N | 152.40W | 6.1 | ALASKA, OUZINKIE | 57.93N | 152.50W | OBS | |
ALASKA, WOMEN'S BAY | 57.73N | 152.52W | 6.1 | ALASKA, OLD HARBOR | 57.22N | 153.37W | 9.2 | |
ALASKA, KAGUYAK | 56.83N | 153.83W | 9.2 | ALASKA, UNALASKA | 53.89N | 166.50W | 0.4 | |
ALASKA, DUTCH HARBOR | 53.90N | 166.51W | 0.4 | ALASKA, SWEEPER COVE | 51.87N | 176.67W | 0.3 | |
ALASKA, ATTU | 52.83N | 173.20E | 0.4 | ALASKA, SITKALIDAK IS. | 57.12N | 153.23W | OBS | |
CANADA, PRINCE RUPERT | 54.32N | 130.33W | 1.4 | CANADA, SHIELDS BAY | 53.50N | 132.90W | 9.8 | |
CANADA, PORT ALBERNI | 49.23N | 124.78W | 6.4 | CANADA, TOFINO B.C. | 49.15N | 125.90W | 1.4 | |
WASH, FRIDAY HARBOR | 48.55N | 123.00W | 0.4 | WASH, NEAH BAY | 48.36N | 124.62W | 0.7 | |
WASH, LAPUSH | 47.91N | 124.61W | 1.6 | WASH, HOH RIVER MOUTH | 47.75N | 124.44W | 0.5 | |
WASH, SEATTLE | 47.60N | 122.33W | 0.1 | WASH, WRECK CREEK | 47.30N | 124.25W | 4.5 | |
WASH, OCEAN SHORES | 47.04N | 124.18W | 2.9 | WASH, SEAVIEW | 47.34N | 124.05W | 3.8 | |
WASH, TAHOLAH | 47.54N | 124.33W | 0.7 | WASH, MOCLIPS | 47.24N | 124.19W | 3.4 | |
WASH, PACIFIC BEACH | 47.21N | 124.18W | OBS | WASH, PACIFIC BEACH | 47.21N | 124.18W | OBS | |
WASH, COPALIS | 47.12N | 124.18W | OBS | WASH, GRAY'S HARBOR | 46.93N | 124.05W | OBS | |
WASH, WESTPORT | 46.89N | 124.12W | OBS | WASH, SEAVIEW | 46.34N | 124.05W | 3.8 | |
WASH, ILWACO | 46.32N | 124.02W | 1.4 | WASH, CAPE DISSAPOINT | 46.25N | 124.08W | 1.7 | |
WASH, VANCOUVER | 45.64N | 122.67W | 0.1 | WASH, BOONE CREEK | .00 | .00 | OBS | |
WASH, JOE CREEK | .00 | .00 | OBS | |||||
OREGON, ASTORIA | 46.20N | 123.77W | 0.4 | OREGON, NEHALEM RIVER | 45.71N | 123.95W | 3.5 | |
OREGON, SEASIDE | 45.94N | 123.93W | OBS | OREGON, CANNON BEACH | 45.91N | 123.96W | OBS | |
OREGON, DEPOE BAY | 44.82N | 124.06W | 3.5 | OREGON, NEWPORT | 44.65N | 124.06W | 0.3 | |
OREGON, WALDPORT-ALS | 44.42N | 124.06W | OBS | OREGON, FLORENCE | 43.97N | 124.1W | OBS | |
OREGON, YAQUINA BAY | 44.63N | 124.07W | 3.5 | OREGON, SIUSLAW RIVER | 43.97N | 124.14W | 3.7 | |
OREGON, UMPQUA RIVER | 43.69N | 124.24W | 4.3 | OREGON, COOS BAY | 43.39N | 124.29W | 3.5 | |
OREGON, ROGUE RIVER | 42.36N | 124.06W | OBS | CALIF, CRESENT CITY | 41.77N | 124.22W | 4.3 | |
CALIF, SMITH RIVER | 42.36N | 124.46W | OBS | CALIF, KLAMATH RIVER | 41.55N | 124.10W | OBS | |
CALIF, TRINIDAD | 41.08N | 124.13W | OBS | CALIF, ALBION RIVER | 39.23N | 123.77W | OBS | |
CALIF, FORT BRAGG | 39.44N | 123.82W | 3.8 | CALIF, POINT ARENA | 38.95N | 123.75W | 3.7 | |
CALIF, ARENA COVE | 38.90N | 123.70W | 1.8 | CALIF, JENNER BEACH | 38.45N | 123.12W | OBS | |
CALIF, RUSSIAN GULCH | 38.44N | 123.12W | OBS | CALIF, BODEGA BAY | 38.33N | 123.08W | 0.8 | |
CALIF, TOMALES BAY | 38.23N | 122.96W | 1.0 | CALIF, DRAKE'S BAY | 38.00N | 122.92W | OBS | |
CALIF, SAN RAFAEL | 37.95N | 122.53W | 1.5 | CALIF, SAUSALITO | 37.86N | 122.51W | 1.2 | |
CALIF, OAKLAND | 37.81N | 122.27W | OBS | CALIF, PACIFICA | 37.63N | 122.48W | 1.4 | |
CALIF, SAN FRANCISCO | 38.80N | 122.40W | 1.1 | CALIF, ALAMEDA | 37.77N | 122.30W | 0.8 | |
CALIF, MOSS LANDING | 37.53N | 121.94W | 1.4 | CALIF, PACIFIC GROVE | 36.61N | 121.94W | 0.9 | |
CALIF, HALF MOON BAY | 37.49N | 122.44W | 3.2 | CALIF, SANTA CRUZ | 36.98N | 122.04W | 1.5 | |
CALIF, CAPITOLA | 36.97N | 121.95W | 2.1 | CALIF, MONTEREY | 36.61N | 121.91W | 1.4 | |
CALIF, PEBBLE BEACH | 36.57N | 121.96W | OBS | CALIF, MARTIN'S BEACH | 35.90N | 121.46W | 3.0 | |
CALIF, AVILA | 35.17N | 120.74W | 1.6 | CALIF, RINCON IS. | 34.35N | 119.43W | 0.9 | |
CALIF, S. MONICA | 34.00N | 118.50W | 1.0 | CALIF, ALAMITOS BAY | 33.75N | 118.12W | 0.4 | |
CALIF, LOS ANGELES | 33.71N | 118.27W | 0.6 | CALIF, NEWPORT | 33.60N | 117.90W | 0.5 | |
CALIF, LA JOLLA | 32.87N | 117.25W | 0.3 | CALIF, SAN DIEGO | 32.72N | 117.17W | 0.6 | |
CALIF, LONG BEACH | 33.75N | 118.23W | OBS | CALIF, NOYO RIVER MOUTH | .00 | .00 | 2.0 | |
CALIF, MUIR BEACH | .00 | .00 | OBS | CALIF, BOLINAS | .00 | .00 | OBS | |
CALIF, SALMON CREEK BEACH. | .00 | .00 | OBS | CALIF, VAN DAMME STATE PARK. | .00 | .00 | OBS | |
HAWAII, HILO | 49.70N | 155.07W | 3.0 | HAWAII, LAUPAHOEHO | 20.00N | 155.25W | 0.7 | |
HAWAII, WAIPIO BA | 20.13N | 155.60W | 1.2 | HAWAII, KAWAIHAE | 20.03N | 155.83W | 1.0 | |
HAWAII, PUAKO | 19.97N | 155.88W | 0.6 | |||||
HAWAII, MAHUKONA | 20.18N | 155.92W | 1.9 | MAUI, MALIKO BA | 20.80N | 156.25W | 2.5 | |
MAUI, LOWER PAIA | 20.92N | 156.38W | 2.8 | MAUI, KAHULUI | 20.93N | 156.48W | 3.6 | |
OAHU, COCONUT IS | 21.43N | 157.80W | 0.3 | OAHU, HONOLULU | 21.32N | 157.92W | 0.5 | |
OAHU, HAUULA | 21.62N | 157.92W | 1.2 | OAHU, WAIALEE | 21.70N | 158.04W | 1.8 | |
OAHU, WAIMEA | 21.63N | 158.07W | 4.9 | OAHU, PUAENA | 21.61N | 158.11W | 2.4 | |
OAHU, HALIEWA | 21.60N | 158.12W | 3.1 | OAHU, KAIAKA BAY | 21.58N | 158.12W | 4.6 | |
KAUAI, ANAHOLA | 22.15N | 159.31W | 1.0 | KAUAI, KAPAA | 22.08N | 159.32W | 2.2 | |
KAUAI, MOLOAA | 22.45N | 159.33W | 1.0 | KAUAI, WAILUA | 22.06N | 159.34W | 1.3 | |
KAUAI, NAWILIWILI | 21.96N | 159.36W | 0.4 | KAUAI, HANALEI | 21.90N | 159.50W | 1.9 | |
KAUAI, HAENA | 22.22N | 159.55W | 3.0 | HAWAII, JOHNSTON IS | 16.75N | 169.52W | 0.2 | |
HAWAII, MIDWAY I. | 28.22N | 177.37W | 0.1 | MEXICO, ACAPULCO | 16.85N | 99.92W | 0.6 | |
MEXICO, MANZANILLO | 19.05N | 104.33W | 0.6 | MEXICO, MAZATLAN | 23.18N | 106.43W | 0.3 | |
MEXICO, LA PAZ | 24.17N | 110.32W | 0.4 | MEXICO, TOPOLOBAMPO | 25.62N | 109.05W | 0.1 | |
MEXICO, GUAYMAS | 27.92N | 110.90W | OBS | MEXICO, ENSENADA | 31.87N | 116.62W | 2.4 | |
EL SALVADOR, ACAJUT. | 13.58N | 89.85W | 0.2 | EL SALVADOR, LA UNION | 13.33N | 87.82W | 0.1 | |
COSTA RICA, PUNTA AR. | 9.97N | 84.83W | 0.2 | COSTA RICA, QUEPOS | 9.40N | 84.17W | 0.2 | |
PANAMA, P. ARMUELLE | 8.26N | 82.87W | 0.1 | PANAMA, NAOS IS | 8.92N | 79.53W | 0.1 | |
COLOMBIA, TUMACO | 1.83N | 78.74W | 0.1 | COLOMBIA, BAHIA SOL. | 6.23N | 77.40W | 0.2 | |
COLOMBIA, BUENAVENT. | 3.92N | 77.08W | 0.1 | ECUADOR, LA LIBERTAD | 2.20S | 80.92W | 0.6 | |
PERU, MATARANI | 17.00S | 72.12W | 0.5 | PERU, SAN JUAN | 15.35S | 75.15W | 0.6 | |
PERU, LA PUNTA | 12.08S | 77.17W | 0.9 | PERU, CALLAO | 12.08S | 77.13W | 1.1 | |
CHILE, CALDERA | 27.07S | 70.83W | 0.7 | CHILE, TALCAHUANO | 36.67S | 73.17W | 2.5 | |
CHILE, ANTOFAGASTA | 23.65S | 70.42W | 0.5 | CHILE, CORRAL | 39.86S | 73.42W | 1.7 | |
CHILE, VALPARAISO | 33.08S | 71.67W | 2.2 | CHILE, ARICA | 18.47S | 70.32W | 2.1 | |
CHILE, COQUIMBO | 29.95S | 71.35W | 4.0 | ANTARTICA, PALMER PENINSULA | 64.50S | 60.00W | 0.4 | |
GALAPAGOS, S. CRISTO | 0.90S | 89.62W | 0.6 | LINE IS., CHRISTMAS I. | 1.98N | 157.48W | 0.1 | |
SOMOA, PAGO PAGO | 14.27S | 171.72W | 0.2 | CAROLINE IS., TRUK | 7.45S | 151.85W | 0.1 | |
NEW BRITAIN, RABAUL | 4.22S | 152.18E | 0.3 | MARIANA IS., GUAM | 13.50N | 144.75E | 0.1 | |
MARIANA IS., GUAM | 13.92N | 90.83W | OBS | MARSHALL, KWAJALEIN | 8.74N | 167.74E | 0.2 | |
WAKE I. | 19.28N | 166.62E | 0.1 | MARSHALL IS., ENIWETOK | 11.37N | 162.35E | 0.1 | |
PHOENIX IS., CANTON | 2.82S | 171.72W | 0.1 | NEW ZEALAND, LYTTLE. | 43.62S | 172.72E | 0.6 | |
AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY | 33.92S | 141.17E | 0.2 | JAPAN, MISHO | .00 | .00 | 0.9 | |
JAPAN, NAGOYA | 35.14N | 136.92E | 0.4 | JAPAN, OSAKA | 34.68N | 135.51E | 0.2 | |
JAPAN, WAKKANAI | 45.43N | 141.72E | 0.7 | JAPAN, KAMAISHI | 39.37N | 141.88E | 0.4 | |
JAPAN, ABASHIRI | 44.00N | 144.26E | 0.3 | JAPAN, KUSHIRO | 42.98N | 144.44E | 1.6 | |
JAPAN, OMAEZAKI | 34.61N | 138.23E | 0.6 | JAPAN, MIYAKO | 39.76N | 141.95E | 0.1 | |
JAPAN, MERA | 34.93N | 139.83E | 0.3 | JAPAN, HANASAKI | 43.31N | 145.63E | 0.7 | |
JAPAN, ENOSHIMA | 35.30N | 139.48E | 0.2 | JAPAN, URAKAWA | 42.17N | 142.83E | 0.3 | |
JAPAN, UFUNATO | 39.06N | 141.64E | 0.7 | JAPAN, MOMBETSU | 44.38N | 143.22E | 0.1 | |
JAPAN, HACHINOHE | 40.52N | 141.55E | 1.4 | JAPAN, ONAGAWA | 38.46N | 141.43E | 0.5 | |
JAPAN, ONOHAMA | 36.95N | 140.90E | 0.4 | JAPAN, KANAYA | 34.82N | 138.14E | 0.2 | |
JAPAN, URAKAMI | .00 | .00 | 0.5 | JAPAN, UCHIURA | 42.25N | 140.25E | 0.2 | |
JAPAN, HAKODATE | 41.81N | 140.75E | 1.0 | JAPAN, HOSOJIMA | 32.44N | 131.68E | 0.1 | |
JAPAN, UBURAYSU | 31.65N | 131.37E | 0.7 | JAPAN, KUSHIMOTO | 33.47N | 135.75E | 0.7 | |
JAPAN, NAZE | 28.37N | 129.49E | 0.2 | JAPAN, TOKYO | 35.69N | 139.75E | 0.1 | |
JAPAN, TOMIZAKI | .00 | .00 | 0.6 | JAPAN, SUMOTO | 34.34N | 134.88E | 0.1 | |
JAPAN, OWASE | 34.06N | 136.20E | 0.5 | JAPAN, KOBE | 35.97N | 123.67E | 0.2 | |
JAPAN, WAKAYAMA | 34.23N | 135.18E | 0.2 | JAPAN, AOMORI | 40.79N | 140.73E | 0.3 | |
JAPAN, HACHIJO | 35.15N | 139.80E | 0.1 | JAPAN, ABURATSUBO | 31.65N | 135.63E | 0.2 | |
JAPAN, YOKOSUKA | 35.30N | 139.65E | 0.2 | JAPAN, SHIMIZU | 34.95N | 138.47E | 0.3 | |
JAPAN, TOSA-SHIMIZU | 33.51N | 133.44E | 0.2 | JAPAN, TOBA | 34.46N | 136.85E | 0.2 | |
JAPAN, ASAMUSHI | .00 | .00 | 0.5 | JAPAN, ONIZAKI | .00 | .00 | 0.1 | |
JAPAN, KOCHI | 33.59N | 133.55E | 0.2 | JAPAN, AOSSIMA | .00 | .00 | 0.2 | |
JAPAN, KAINAN | 34.17N | 135.22E | 0.2 | JAPAN, CHOSHI | 35.74N | 140.84E | 0.7 | |
KURIL IS., YUZHNO, KURIL | 44.04N | 144.82E | 0.4 | KAMCHATKA, PETROPAVLSK | 53.10N | 158.65E | 0.4 |
1. George Plafker, USGS, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper. 543-I. Tectonics of the March 27, 1964,
Alaska Earthquake.
2. James Lander, 1989, U.S. Tsunamis, 1690-1988, NOAA, National Geophysical Data Center, Boulder, Co.
3. Committee on the Alaska Earthquake of Division of Earth Sciences, National Research Council, Seismology
and Geodesy, 1972.
4. Thomas J. Sokolowski, 1991. "Improvements in the Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska." Earthquake Spectra, Vol.
7, No. 3.