August 15, 1939 Tsunami: Santa Clara, Cuba
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.6 earthquake began at Santa Clara, Cuba on August 15, 1939 at 03:52 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 15, 1939, 03:52 UTC
- Source
- Santa Clara, Cuba
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 5.6
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
- Source location
- 22.200° N, 79.100° 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.
The earthquake noted at Santa Clara caused movement of the sea at Cabo Frances.
1939, August 15, 01:45 local time. Cuba: Cabo Frances. 22.2 N, 79.1 W. At Cabo Frances, movement of the sea awoke sailors on a barque and a yacht. The Barbados Advocate reported a moderate 2-second tremor [Mb = 5.6] at Santa Clara [MMI = VII-VIII]; the Remedios hospital was damaged and many injured. Rubio said the shock caused the
tsunami, and that "This 'tsunami' was a II on the Rudolph scale [an earthquake intensity scale]; the epicenter was localized in the sea." Barbados Advocate, 1939; Bodle, 1941; Lynch & Shepherd, 1995; Robson & Tomblin, 1977; Rubio, 1982; Seismological Notes, 1939. V2. (reference #1492)
1939, August 15, 3:52 UTC. 1939, August 15 [3:52 UT]: At Cayo Frances, Cuba, movement of the sea reportedly woke up the sailors on two vessels. The earthquake (Mb=5.6) that caused this movement affected the Las Villas and Santa
Clara provinces. Rubio gives the epicenter as localized in the ocean. Lynch and Shepherd, 1995; Rubio, 1982. V2 (reference #537)
1939, August 15. Cuba (VII or VIII) about 01:45 h. (A.D.T.) A tremor of moderate intensity, lasting 2 see., was felt in several places in Santa Clara province. The Remedios hospital was damaced and many persons injured. Barbados Advocate 16.8.1939. Daily Gleaner, 16.8.1939. (reference #535)
1939, Augsut 15, 1:45 a.m. Cuba VII or VI11 (Robson and Tomblin) "A tremor of moderate intensity, lasting 2 seconds was felt in several places in Santa Clara province. The Remedios hospital was damaged and many persons injured."
(Barbados Advocate (1939 August 16) (reference #249)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cayo Frances | Cuba | 510 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1939The 1900sTsunamis of CubaThe 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 1737.