August 15, 2007 Tsunami: S. Peru
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake began at S. Peru on August 15, 2007 at 23:40:57 UTC. The water rose as high as 10.05 meters. Its effects were recorded at 141 places in at least 14 countries. It killed 596 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
- August 15, 2007, 23:40:57 UTC
- Source
- S. Peru
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 8, 39 km deep
- Maximum water height
- 10.05 m (33.0 ft)
- Runups recorded
- 141
- Warning
- Pacific-wide Tsunami Warning issued by PTWC
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Definite tsunami
- Source location
- 13.386° S, 76.603° W
The toll
- Deaths
- 3; 596 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Injuries
- 1,292 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million); $600 million with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses destroyed
- Few (about 1 to 50); 93,708 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses damaged
- 45,813 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
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.
On August 15, 2007 at 23:40:58 UTC a magnitude 8.0 MW earthquake occurred 150 km SSE of Lima, Peru. The earthquake generated a tsunami that was observed by tide gauges in Peru, Chile, French Polynesia, Mexico, Hawaii, and California. The DART 32401 (off the coast of Chile) observed the tsunami, but DARTs 43412 and 43413 (off the coast of Mexico) and 51406 (southeast of Hawaii) did not.
News reports stated that in La Punta and Callao, Peru, when the earthquake began, sea levels rose by one meter and as movement continued sea levels rose another half of a meter (reference #3100).
In Lagunilla, south of the Paracas Peninsula, residents did not self-evacuate after the earthquake and there was no coast guard outpost to coordinate the evacuation. Three people were caught by the waves and their bodies were eventually recovered approximately 1800 m inland. These deaths were preventable--as there was high ground less than 100 m away and Lagunilla did not suffer significant earthquake damage--if only the residents had been more cognizant of the tsunami hazard after an earthquake and initiated an immediate evacuation as executed perfectly by the Solomon Islanders on 1 April 2007... The fishing village of Lagunilla completely destroyed by the tsunami resulting in 3 deaths out of 7 inhabitants, while survivors reported no significant earthquake damage (Reference #9174).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playa Iguana | Peru | 35 | 4.21 | 42.3 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa Jahuay - Avicola Rio Bravo | Peru | 40 | 2.07 | 46 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa Jahuay - Avicola Rio Bravo | Peru | 40 | 1.87 | 132.9 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Cerro Azul | Peru | 42 | 2.1 | 89.8 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Cerro Azul | Peru | 42 | 2.4 | 153.1 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Chincha - Tambo DE Mora Prison | Peru | 45 | 3.54 | 232.8 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Chincha - Tambo DE Mora Prison | Peru | 45 | 3.34 | 266.9 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Chincha | Peru | 46 | 2.21 | 128.4 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Chincha - Playa Lurin | Peru | 48 | 2.37 | 160.7 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Pisco | Peru | 54 | 2.19 | 354.2 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Pisco | Peru | 54 | 3.09 | 649 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Pisco | Peru | 54 | 2.71 | 588.5 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Pisco | Peru | 54 | 2.41 | 588.5 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Pisco | Peru | 55 | 2.41 | 778.2 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Pisco | Peru | 55 | 2.28 | 440.1 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| San Andres | Peru | 56 | 2.51 | 96.1 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| San Andres | Peru | 56 | 2.71 | 132.5 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| San Andres | Peru | 56 | 1.81 | 149.2 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Puerto General San Martin | Peru | 57 | 3.15 | 0 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| San Andres / Pisco Airport | Peru | 57 | 2.44 | 134.9 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| San Andres | Peru | 57 | 2.45 | 108.8 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| San Andres | Peru | 57 | 2.35 | 142.8 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa Athenas (Bahia DE Paracas) | Peru | 59 | 2.37 | 24.3 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Bahia DE Paracas | Peru | 60 | 3.07 | 529 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Paracas | Peru | 60 | 2.25 | 7 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Lagunilla Inundation | Peru | 62 | 3.63 | 2,006.1 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Lagunilla Inundation | Peru | 62 | 3.83 | 1,986.5 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Paracas | Peru | 62 | 2.25 | 21.1 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Paracas | Peru | 62 | 2.46 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | |||
| Playa Sarapampa | Peru | 62 | 1.73 | 33.8 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa Sarapampa | Peru | 62 | 1.33 | 89.1 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Lagunilla Inundation | Peru | 63 | 4.13 | 1,328.6 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Paracas | Peru | 63 | 2.43 | 126.7 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Paracas | Peru | 63 | 3.13 | 196 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Paracas | Peru | 63 | 2.95 | 14.4 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Paracas | Peru | 63 | 2.85 | 18.2 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Paracas | Peru | 63 | 1.85 | 223.1 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Paracas | Peru | 63 | 2.46 | 68.3 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Paracas | Peru | 63 | 2.41 | 84.6 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Paracas | Peru | 63 | 2.16 | 95.1 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 5.33 | 103.4 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 79.1 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 94.8 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 155.5 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 157.4 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 86.9 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 102.6 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 51.4 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 43.6 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 46.7 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 47.1 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 5.63 | 63.7 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 3.83 | 59.5 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||
| Lagunilla Control Post | Peru | 64 | 4.93 | 88 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Lagunilla Village | Peru | 64 | 5.27 | 70.2 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | 3 | |
| Lagunilla Village | Peru | 64 | 4.47 | 151.8 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||
| Lagunilla Village | Peru | 64 | 4.87 | 179.2 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Lagunilla Village | Peru | 65 | 5.66 | 39.8 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Bahia DE Paracas | Peru | 65 | 2.98 | 275.9 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa Yumaque | Peru | 67 | 7.05 | 98.6 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa Yumaque | Peru | 67 | 10.05 | 77.8 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Asia | Peru | 68 | 1.55 | 94.4 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa LA Catedral | Peru | 71 | 7.13 | 66.6 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Mala Totoritas | Peru | 78 | 1.18 | 63.4 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Ensenada del Playon | Peru | 83 | 5.71 | 69.8 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Ensenada del Playon | Peru | 83 | 4.31 | 95.2 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Rancherio | Peru | 93 | 3.03 | 72 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Rancherio | Peru | 93 | 1.03 | 45.2 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Chucho | Peru | 93 | 4.19 | 415.6 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Chucho | Peru | 94 | 4.4 | 34.8 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa Chilca | Peru | 95 | 1.72 | 33.1 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa Chilca | Peru | 96 | 0.92 | 122.6 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Caclio | Peru | 97 | 2.93 | 25 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Caclio | Peru | 97 | 1.93 | 216.1 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Tunga | Peru | 104 | 3.14 | 19 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Tunga | Peru | 104 | 4.34 | 23.5 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa Pulpos | Peru | 122 | 2.66 | 36.6 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Lurin | Peru | 124 | 3.19 | 86 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Conchan | Peru | 131 | 2.14 | 87 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa Kankun | Peru | 134 | 2.49 | 22.9 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Playa Villa | Peru | 138 | 3.82 | 40 | Runup height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Bahia Miraflores | Peru | 147 | 20 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| La Punta | Peru | 158 | 1 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Callao LA Punta | Peru | 158 | 0.8 | 0 | Water height, post-tsunami survey | ||
| Callao LA Punta | Peru | 158 | 1.08 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 00:34 | ||
| Callao | Peru | 159 | 1 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| San Juan | Peru | 267 | 0.67 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 00:11 | ||
| D32401 Bpr, W-Sw of Arica, Chile | Chile | 708 | 0.05 | Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 00:41 | ||
| Arica | Chile | 877 | 0.36 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 01:15 | ||
| Iquique | Chile | 1,021 | 0.15 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 01:01 | ||
| Antofagasta | Chile | 1,311 | 0.16 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 01:33 | ||
| San Felix | Chile | 1,474 | 0.27 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 01:42 | ||
| Caldera | Chile | 1,630 | 0.19 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 01:55 | ||
| Coquimbo | Chile | 1,913 | 0.27 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 02:24 | ||
| Santa Cruz Island | Ecuador | 2,058 | 0.27 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 04:17 | ||
| Valparaiso | Chile | 2,233 | 0.18 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 02:43 | ||
| Juan Fernandez Islands | Chile | 2,254 | 0.2 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 02:41 | ||
| San Antonio | Chile | 2,293 | 0.17 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 02:54 | ||
| Talcahuano | Chile | 2,606 | 0.35 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 03:58 | ||
| Ancud, Isla DE Chiloe | Chile | 3,168 | 0.06 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 04:42 | ||
| Acapulco | Mexico | 4,212 | 0.2 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 06:11 | ||
| Cabo San Lucas | Mexico | 5,410 | 0.07 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 07:57 | ||
| Rikitea, Mangareva Island | French Polynesia | 6,227 | 0.06 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 08:20 | ||
| San Diego, CA, CA | United States | 6,681 | 0.05 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 11:20 | ||
| Los Angeles, CA, CA | United States | 6,832 | 0.06 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 11:15 | ||
| Santa Monica, CA, CA | United States | 6,869 | 0.07 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 10:53 | ||
| Nuku Hiva Island, Marquesas Islands | French Polynesia | 6,936 | 0.3 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 09:43 | ||
| Santa Barbara, CA, CA | United States | 6,980 | 0.09 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Port San Luis, CA, CA | United States | 7,110 | 0.08 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 11:15 | ||
| Point Reyes, CA, CA | United States | 7,464 | 0.06 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 11:26 | ||
| Arena Cove, CA, CA | United States | 7,579 | 0.04 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 11:24 | ||
| Crescent City, CA, CA | United States | 7,812 | 0.16 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 11:52 | ||
| Port Angeles, WA, WA | United States | 8,235 | 0.05 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Hilo, Hawaii, HI, HI | United States | 9,338 | 0.37 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 12:20 | ||
| Kawaihae, Hawaii, HI, HI | United States | 9,426 | 0.11 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 12:38 | ||
| Kahului, Maui, HI, HI | United States | 9,517 | 0.28 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 12:45 | ||
| Honolulu, Oahu, HI, HI | United States | 9,668 | 0.04 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 13:00 | ||
| Kaingaroa, Chatham Island | New Zealand | 9,752 | 0.3 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 13:38 | ||
| Nawiliwili, Kauai, HI, HI | United States | 9,836 | 0.03 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 13:00 | ||
| Pago Pago, American Samoa, AS | US Territories | 10,085 | 0.17 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 13:57 | ||
| Apia, Upolu Island | Samoa | 10,209 | 0.13 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 13:54 | ||
| Nukualofa (Nuku'Alofa) | Tonga | 10,352 | 0.03 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Old Harbor, Kodiak, AK, AK | United States | 10,464 | 0.1 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 16:07 | ||
| Kaikoura | New Zealand | 10,569 | 0.25 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 16:15 | ||
| Sumner Head | New Zealand | 10,587 | 0.22 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 15:57 | ||
| Lyttelton | New Zealand | 10,589 | 0.17 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 16:19 | ||
| Green Island | New Zealand | 10,646 | 0.13 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 15:59 | ||
| Timaru | New Zealand | 10,660 | 0.26 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 16:49 | ||
| Sand Point, AK, AK | United States | 10,839 | 0.04 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 16:21 | ||
| Unalaska, Dutch Harbor, AK, AK | United States | 11,194 | 0.1 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 16:07 | ||
| Midway Islands, HI | US Territories | 11,750 | 0.06 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 15:44 | ||
| Midway Islands, HI | US Territories | 11,750 | 0.06 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 15:40 | ||
| Port Vila, Efate Island | Vanuatu | 12,114 | 0.14 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, MH | Marshall Islands | 13,005 | 0.04 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Hanasaki | Japan | 14,807 | 0.12 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Ofunato | Japan | 15,307 | 0.04 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 16, 20:07 | ||
| Omaezaki | Japan | 15,805 | 0.07 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Tosa-Shimizu | Japan | 16,332 | 0.13 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Naha | Japan | 17,122 | 0.06 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Davao | Philippines | 17,501 | 0.01 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | |||
| Ishigakiko | Japan | 17,530 | 0.04 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) |
More
Every tsunami in 2007The 2000sTsunamis of PeruThe 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 3168.