December 18, 1920 Tsunami: Albanian Coasts
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6 earthquake began at Albanian Coasts on December 18, 1920 at 02:01:36 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
- December 18, 1920, 02:01:36 UTC
- Source
- Albanian Coasts
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 6, 15 km deep
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 5
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
- Source location
- 41.197° N, 20.704° E
The toll
- Deaths
- Many (about 101 to 1,000)
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
- Houses destroyed
- Many (101 to 1,000)
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.
1920, December 18 (also reported as November 26), 1920. Adriatic Sea, Albania. A strong earthquake destroyed Elbasan and Pekini. Two thirds of Elbasan tumbled down, and villages along the River Shkumbin from Adalit to Pekini collapsed almost completely. About 10,000 inhabitants were left homeless. A huge tsunami wave originated in the Bay of Vlore and flooded the Island of Sazanit; almost the entire population drowned (i = 5). Considerable damage was done along the shore. The wave was observed in much of the Adriatic Sea. Listed as Possible tsunami. (reference #2130)
Dec 18, 1920, 02:01:57 UTC, 40.5 N, 19.5 E, magnitude 5.6, intensity IX, tsunami intensity 5. A long period of strong seismic activity involve the area of Valona (Albania). On December 18th a strong shock was particularly violent at Elbasan, where most of buildings ruined. Many victims. The shock was largely felt, with a radius of about 1700 km. A big tsunami wave in the Gulf of Valona inundated Saseno island and large part of the population drowned. Severe damage along the coast. The Adriatic sea was perturbated. Tsunami intensity IV according to Antonopoulos. Listed as Definite tsunami. (reference #4139)
1920, December 18, 02:02 UTC. Earthquake intensity X at Elbasan. The seismic waves of the sea in bay of Vlore have flood almost completely the island of Sazan and dwellings. Most of the Adriatic Sea was very agitated. (reference #1109)
1920, December 18. Albanian Coasts, Valona, Saseno. (reference #15)
1920, December 18. Albanian Coasts, 40.5 N, 19.5 E, magnitude 5.6, intensity IX, Valone, Saseno. (reference #20)
1920, December 18. Albanian Coasts, 40.5 N, 19.5 E, magnitude 5.6, intensity IX, Valona, Saseno. (reference #29)
November 26, 1920, 08:51 UTC, 38.5 N, 20.62 E, magnitude 6.7, intensity IX, damaging wave in Saseno. Listed as Probable tsunami. (reference #2427)
1920, December 18, 02:01:20 UTC. 41.1 N, 21.1 E, magnitude 5.8. (reference #330)
1920 December 18, 02:01:57 UTC. Listed as Definite tsunami. (reference #11164, v.2)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sazan Island (Sazanit, Saseno) | Albania | 143 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1920The 1900sTsunamis of AlbaniaThe 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 1488.