January 28, 1938 Tsunami: Nyamuragira, Congo
A tsunami caused by a volcano began at Nyamuragira, Congo on January 28, 1938. 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 28, 1938
- Source
- Nyamuragira, Congo
- Cause
- Volcano
- Volcano
- The eruption that caused it
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- A lake or river, not the ocean
- How certain
- Probable tsunami
- Source location
- 1.408° S, 29.200° E
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.
A lava lake in the summit crater, active since at least 1921, drained in 1938 during a major flank eruption. The flows were said to have reached Lake Kivu and the contrast between the lava and the water generated mini tsunamis.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Kivu | Congo | 27 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1938The 1900sTsunamis of CongoThe eruptionThis 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 3638.