August 16, 1902 Tsunami: Mexico
A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at Mexico on August 16, 1902 at 08:11:36 UTC. 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 16, 1902, 08:11:36 UTC
- Source
- Mexico
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Very doubtful tsunami
- Source location
- 24.600° N, 107.900° 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, 1902, validity 1. A tsunami, possibly of seismic origin, supposedly fell on the coast of the Golfo de California in the region of Altata port. (reference #415)
Tidal wave at Altata and other Mexican harbours. (reference #7855)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altata | Mexico | 4 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1902The 1900sTsunamis of MexicoThis 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 5082.