January 26, 1872 Tsunami: Philippines
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6 earthquake began at Philippines on January 26, 1872. 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
- January 26, 1872
- Source
- Philippines
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 6
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 1.5
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Probable tsunami
- Source location
- 16.000° N, 119.000° E
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.
Reference #414:
1872, January 26, 19:30 [local time], there was a strong earthquake on the coast at Zambales Range, near Agno. An unusual wave was observed soon after the earthquake on the coast and in the river at Agno. The city was partly flooded.
Reference #1072:
1871, January 26, 19h 30m. Earthquake intensity VII. Violent earthquake close to the coast of Zambales, near the town of Agno. The shock was repeated ten to twelve times, accompanied by subterraneous noises; an extraordinary wave was seen in the sea close to the coast and in the Agno River which empties into the sea near the town. The affected area was very small, which makes it appear probable that the cause must he sought in some
displacements in the scarps of the coast.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agno, Luzon Island | Philippines | 87 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1872The 1800sTsunamis of PhilippinesThe 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 1037.