November 14, 1953 Tsunami: Tasmania, Australia
A tsunami of unknown cause began at Tasmania, Australia on November 14, 1953. The water rose as high as 2.4 meters. Its effects were recorded at 1 place. It killed 1 person.
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
- November 14, 1953
- Source
- Tasmania, Australia
- Cause
- Unknown
- Maximum water height
- 2.4 m (7.9 ft)
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Very doubtful tsunami
- Source location
- 41.000° S, 147.400° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 1
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
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.
Nine year-old David Moarse was drowned when a huge wave estimated to be eight foot (2.4 m) high engulfed three children at Mattingleys Beach, Bridport. The origin of this wave event is unclear. (reference #7675)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridport, Tasmania | Australia | 0 | 2.4 | Eyewitness observation of water height | 1 |
More
Every tsunami in 1953The 1900sTsunamis of AustraliaThis 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 5766.