May 23, 1851 Tsunami: Khalki Islet, Greece
A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at Khalki Islet, Greece on May 23, 1851. Its effects were recorded at 2 places.
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
The tsunami
- Date
- May 23, 1851
- Source
- Khalki Islet, Greece
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- The earthquake
- Runups recorded
- 2
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 2
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1951 April (May 23), event validity 2, unknown source of tsunami. Two weak earthquakes occurred. Many ships in the harbor nearly capsized. (reference #2130)
1951 May 23, 36.4 N 28.7 E, event validity 2, submarine earthquake source. Possibly an aftershock of the event of 28 February. Tsunami waves observed in Rhodes and Chalki, but the reported inundation distances are doubtful (reference #9275)
Every runup
Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island of Rhodes | Greece | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||||
| Chalki Island | Greece | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1851The 1800sTsunamis of GreeceThe earthquakeThis 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 782.