January 18, 1902 Tsunami: Ocosa, Guatemala
A tsunami probably caused by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake began at Ocosa, Guatemala on January 18, 1902 at 23:23 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
- January 18, 1902, 23:23 UTC
- Source
- Ocosa, Guatemala
- Cause
- Questionable earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 6.3
- Runups recorded
- 0
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Very doubtful tsunami
- Source location
- 14.710° N, 91.590° W
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses destroyed
- 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.
On January 18, 1902 at 17:20 [local time], a very strong earthquake occurred, which affected the entire territory of Guatemala and lasted about 1/2 minute. Several homes collapsed at San Martin village near Quesaltenango, while three sand ridges about 2 km long formed at Ocosa. The visible ground waves, according to accounts, were 25-30 m long and 25-30 cm high. Two 20-ton locomotives were shifted 1 1/2-2 m. Similar phenomena were observed on the coast of Mexico at San Benito. (reference #415)
January 18, 1902, 23:23 UT, 14.71 N, 91.59 W, depth 40-60 km, magnitude 6.3, questionable local tsunami. On January 18, 1902 at 17:20 a very strong earthquake occurred, which affected the entire territory of Guatemala. Several homes collapsed at San Martin village near Quetzaltenango, while three sand ridges about 20 km long formed at Ocos. The visible round waves according to accounts, were 25-30 m long and 25-30 cm high. Two 20-ton locomotives were shifted 1.5-2 m. Similar phenomena were observed on the coast of Mexico at San Benito. (reference #273)
More
Every tsunami in 1902The 1900sTsunamis of GuatemalaThe 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 5062.