Tsunamis in 1915

February 11, 1915 Tsunami: Manua Islands, American Samoa, US Territories

February 11, 1915 · 2.4 m · 3 deaths · Very doubtful tsunami

A tsunami of meteorological origin began at Manua Islands, American Samoa, US Territories on February 11, 1915. The water rose as high as 2.4 meters. Its effects were recorded at 1 place. It killed 3 people.

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

Tsunami warnings in force

The tsunami

Date
February 11, 1915
Source
Manua Islands, American Samoa, US Territories
Cause
Meteorological
Maximum water height
2.4 m (7.9 ft)
Runups recorded
1
Waters
Ocean
How certain
Very doubtful tsunami
Source location
14.180° S, 169.660° W

The toll

Deaths
3

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.

Probably Meteorological in origin. No earthquake or tsunami reported elsewhere in the Samoan Islands. (Ref #236)

Every runup

Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.

WhereCountryKm from sourceWater height, mInland, mMeasured byFirst wave, UTCDeaths
Manu'A Islands, American Samoa, ASUS Territories02.4Eyewitness observation of water height3

More

Every tsunami in 1915The 1900sTsunamis of US TerritoriesThis 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 1422.