August 12, 1868 Tsunami: S. Mexico
A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at S. Mexico on August 12, 1868. 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
The tsunami
- Date
- August 12, 1868
- Source
- S. Mexico
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- The earthquake
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Probable tsunami
- Source location
- 16.800° N, 99.900° W
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.
August 12 (or 11), 1868, 4:00 [local time]. An earthquake was felt at Acapulco (although not by all residents). A weaker shock was noticed at 11:00. Apparently, the unusual flood and ebb tides of the sea, observed from morning until 20:00, should be ascribed to this earthquake. The water at first retreated 35 m (40 vara) beyond its usual mark, and then covered the shore also for 35 m (40 vara) beyond the usual line, flooding nearby homes. [Probably effects of the Arica, Peru tsunami, August 13, 1868]. (reference #415)
August 13,1868. A weak earthquake was felt in Acapulco, although not by all residents. The Ocean water at first retreated 35 m beyond its usual mark, and then covered the shore for 35 m beyond the usual line, flooding nearby homes. These were probably effects of a large tsunami produced by an 8.0 to 9.0 magnitude earthquake at nearby Arica (Chile). (reference #369)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acapulco | Mexico | 4 | 35 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1868The 1800sTsunamis of MexicoThe 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 981.