Tsunamis in 1870

June 9, 1870 Tsunami: Guadeloupe

June 9, 1870 · Questionable tsunami

A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at Guadeloupe on June 9, 1870 at 13:10 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

Tsunami warnings in force

The tsunami

Date
June 9, 1870, 13:10 UTC
Source
Guadeloupe
Cause
Earthquake
Earthquake
The earthquake
Runups recorded
0
Waters
Ocean
How certain
Questionable tsunami

The toll

Damage
Limited (under about $1 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
Houses damaged
Few (about 1 to 50) 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.

Several violent shocks from an earthquake were felt at Windward Islands on the 9th [June]. At Guadaloupe a tidal wave covered to a great extent the entire land. (reference #11673)

News has been received from different Windward Islands that several violent shocks of earthquake were felt in the morning of the 9th inst. [June] At Guadaloupe the sea rose and covered a great extent of land, then suddenly receded with such violence as to drag vessels in the harbor far out to sea. The amount of the damage is not yet known. (reference #11675)

Passengers from the Windward Islands report that several very severe shocks of earthquake were experienced on the morning of the 9th, at ten minutes past nine, and considerable damage was done to wall buildings. The sea rose to a great height about the island of Guadaloupe, and when returning the violence was so great that vessels were carried out of the harbor. From present data it is impossible to estimate the extent of country affected or the amount of damage done. (reference #11676)

More

Every tsunami in 1870The 1800sTsunamis of GuadeloupeThe 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 5619.