Tsunamis in 1831

July 2, 1831 Tsunami: Sciacca, Italy

July 2, 1831 · Questionable tsunami

A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at Sciacca, Italy on July 2, 1831. Its effects were recorded at 1 place.

Where the waves reached

The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.

  • Under 1 m
  • 1 to 3 m
  • 3 to 10 m
  • 10 to 30 m
  • 30 m and more
  • Height not recorded

Tsunami warnings in force

The tsunami

Date
July 2, 1831
Source
Sciacca, Italy
Cause
Earthquake
Runups recorded
1
Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
1
Waters
Ocean
How certain
Questionable tsunami
Source location
37.050° N, 12.300° E

The toll

The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this tsunami.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

"The formation of a new island took place near the southern shore. On July 2, the sea started to boil up unusually between Sicily and Africa 50km to the south-west of Sciacca. An eruption resulted in formation of the Island of Julia or Ferdinandea" (reference #2130).

Every runup

Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.

WhereCountryKm from sourceWater height, mInland, mMeasured byFirst wave, UTCDeaths
SciaccaItalyEyewitness observation of water height

More

Every tsunami in 1831The 1800sTsunamis of ItalyThis day in weather historyAlerts in force

Sources

Tsunami events and runups from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI tsunami event 3292.