September 13, 2002 Tsunami: Andaman Islands, India
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake began at Andaman Islands, India on September 13, 2002 at 22:28:29 UTC. Its effects were recorded at 4 places. It killed 2 people, counting the earthquake or eruption that caused it.
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
- September 13, 2002, 22:28:29 UTC
- Source
- Andaman Islands, India
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 6.5, 21 km deep
- Runups recorded
- 4
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Definite tsunami
- Source location
- 13.036° N, 93.068° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 2 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million); Moderate (about $1 to $5 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses destroyed
- 40 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses damaged
- Few (about 1 to 50)
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.
A local tsunami damaged several shops at Ariel Bay on Middle Andaman and a lighthouse on East Island. The tsunami was observed on Ross and Smith Islands. (reference #1053)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ariel Bay, Andaman Islands | India | 27 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Smith Island, Andaman Islands | India | 65 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| East Island, Andaman Islands | India | 67 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Ross Island, Andaman Islands | India | 154 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 2002The 2000sTsunamis of IndiaThe 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 2399.