September 5, 1868 Tsunami: Calabrian Arc, Italy
A tsunami caused by a volcano and an earthquake began at Calabrian Arc, Italy on September 5, 1868 at 02:00 UTC.
Where the waves reached
The source of the tsunami. No runup with a place is recorded for it.
- 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
- September 5, 1868, 02:00 UTC
- Source
- Calabrian Arc, Italy
- Cause
- Volcano and earthquake
- Earthquake
- The earthquake
- Volcano
- The eruption that caused it
- Runups recorded
- 0
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
- Source location
- 37.600° N, 15.133° 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.
1868, September 5, 02h. Calabrian Arc, Island of Sicily. Once several flame - coloured tongues and balls were ejected from the crater of Etna, a strong earthquake that lasted
several seconds occurred in Aci Catena, Acireale, Viagrande, Giarre, Zafferana (Etnea), Macchia, S. Antonio, Sta Venerina, Trecastagni and in other places. It was weakly felt in Catania, but did not reach Messina. The sea was very excited
3 miles from the little Island of Aci Trezza. (reference #2130)
More
Every tsunami in 1868The 1800sTsunamis of ItalyThe earthquakeThe eruptionThis 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 3451.