Tsunamis in 2012

October 28, 2012 Tsunami: British Columbia, Canada

October 28, 2012 · 12.98 m · 1 death · Definite tsunami

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake began at British Columbia, Canada on October 28, 2012 at 03:04:08 UTC. The water rose as high as 12.98 meters. Its effects were recorded at 178 places in at least 16 countries. 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

Tsunami warnings in force

The tsunami

Date
October 28, 2012, 03:04:08 UTC
Source
British Columbia, Canada
Cause
Earthquake
Maximum water height
12.98 m (42.6 ft)
Runups recorded
178
Warning
Regional Tsunami Warning issued by PTWC for areas without a warning system
Waters
Ocean
How certain
Definite tsunami
Source location
52.788° N, 132.101° W

The toll

Deaths
1

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.

At 8:04 P.M. Pacifi c daylight time (PDT) on 27 October 2012 (03:04 universal time (UT), 28 October), Canada's second largest instrumentally recorded earthquake rocked Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands) and the mainland coast of British Columbia. The M 7.7 event off the west coast of Moresby Island caused a tsunami with local runup of more than 7 meters and amplitudes up to 0.8 meter on tide gauges 4000 kilometers away in Hawaii. (reference #10720)

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center lifted its tsunami advisory for Hawaii Sunday morning just before 4 a.m. local time, three hours after downgrading from a warning and less than six hours after the waves first hit the islands... There were no immediate reports of damage, though one person died in a fatal crash near a road that was closed because of the threat near Oahu's north shore. (reference #11073)

Every runup

Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.

WhereCountryKm from sourceWater height, mInland, mMeasured byFirst wave, UTCDeaths
Davidson Inlet, BCCanada48.0411Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Davidson Inlet, BCCanada48.832Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Davidson Inlet, BCCanada46.7526Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Davidson Inlet, BCCanada47.678Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Davidson Inlet, BCCanada48.9718Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Davidson Inlet, BCCanada49.4918Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Davidson Inlet, BCCanada412.9835Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sunday Inlet, BCCanada21520Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sunday Inlet, BCCanada214.757Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sunday Inlet, BCCanada214.9616Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sunday Inlet, BCCanada214.9424Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sunday Inlet, BCCanada214.8732Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sunday Inlet, BCCanada213.3535Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sunday Inlet, BCCanada214.9929Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sunday Inlet, BCCanada214.2217Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sunday Inlet, BCCanada216.2527Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sunday Inlet, BCCanada213.6620Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Sunday Inlet, BCCanada215.4833Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Kwoon Cove, BCCanada216.154Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Kwoon Cove, BCCanada216.955Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Kwoon Cove, BCCanada216.466Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Pocket Inlet, BCCanada255.0914Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Pocket Inlet, BCCanada255.8218Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Pocket Inlet, BCCanada257.1539Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Pocket Inlet, BCCanada255.5128Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Pocket Inlet, BCCanada254.8634Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Pocket Inlet, BCCanada256.233Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Pocket Inlet, BCCanada252.5138Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Saunders Island, BCCanada367.6930Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Saunders Island, BCCanada368.2433Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Saunders Island, BCCanada367.5630Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Saunders Island, BCCanada365.723Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Mike Inlet, BCCanada377.6228Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Mike Inlet, BCCanada374.9726Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Mike Inlet, BCCanada376.0819Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Mike Inlet, BCCanada377.0518Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Puffin Cove, BCCanada413.49Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Puffin Cove, BCCanada413.291Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Queen Charlotte, British Columbia, BCCanada510.06Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:49
Goski Bay, BCCanada544.228Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Goski Bay, BCCanada544.56Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Goski Bay, BCCanada544.3125Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Goski Bay, BCCanada544.350Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Goski Bay, BCCanada544.0248Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Gudal Bay, BCCanada586.3712Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Gudal Bay, BCCanada587.415Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Staki Bay, BCCanada753.3625Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Staki Bay, BCCanada752.8726Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Louscoone Inlet, BCCanada823.9814Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Louscoone Inlet, BCCanada823.6712Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Louscoone Inlet, BCCanada823.8710Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Louscoone Inlet, BCCanada823.4315Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Seal Inlet, BCCanada933.5925Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Seal Inlet, BCCanada933.6232Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Tadasl, BCCanada1048.0914Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Gilbert Bay, BCCanada1085.8926Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Gilbert Bay, BCCanada1088.4552Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Gilbert Bay, BCCanada1086.9323Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Gilbert Bay, BCCanada1088.0422Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Otard Bay, BCCanada1257.235Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Otard Bay, BCCanada1256.2847Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Otard Bay, BCCanada1256.2457Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Otard Bay, BCCanada1257.370Runup height, post-tsunami survey
Henslung Cove, British Columbia, BCCanada1670.21Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 03:19
Langara Island, British Columbia, BCCanada1740.25Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 03:40
Hartley Bay, British Columbia, BCCanada2030.02Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:10
Prince Rupert, British Columbia, BCCanada2070.09Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:00
Kitimat, British Columbia, BCCanada2630.04Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:29
Bella Bella, British Columbia, BCCanada2780.11Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:11
Ketchikan, AK, AKUnited States2850.05Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:40
Craig, AK, AKUnited States3050.08Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:26
Winter Harbor, British Columbia, BCCanada3790.22Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 03:57
Port Hardy, British Columbia, BCCanada3930.09Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:37
Port Alexander, AK, AKUnited States4190.11Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:10
D46419 Bpr, W-Nw of Seattle, WA, WAUnited States517Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Sitka, AK, AKUnited States5180.1Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:26
Tofino (Clayoquot),british Columbia, BCCanada5930.12Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:24
Port Alberni, British Columbia, BCCanada6460.22Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:24
Neptune05, British Columbia, BCCanada6530.08Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:43
Bamfield, British Columbia, BCCanada6580.07Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:36
Elfin Cove, AK, AKUnited States6600.07Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:34
Neah Bay, WA, WAUnited States7230.11Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:03
La Push, WA, WAUnited States7590.12Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 04:52
Port Angeles, WA, WAUnited States8040.12Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:50
D46404 Bpr, West of Astoria, OR, ORUnited States807Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Westport, WA, WAUnited States8700.08Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:13
Yakutat, AK, AKUnited States8880.15Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:22
Toke Point, WA, WAUnited States8940.04Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:25
D46410 Bpr, SE of Anchorage, AK, AKUnited States920Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Astoria, OR, ORUnited States9470.03Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:41
Garibaldi, OR, ORUnited States1,0000.05Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:12
South Beach, OR, ORUnited States1,0830.07Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:28
D46409 Bpr, SE of Kodiak, AK, AKUnited States1,107Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height)
D46407 Bpr, 210 NM W Coos Bay, OR, ORUnited States1,152Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Charleston, OR, ORUnited States1,2020.13Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:23
Port Orford, OR, ORUnited States1,2530.23Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:21
Valdez, AK, AKUnited States1,2640.03Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 06:18
Crescent City, CA, CAUnited States1,3640.44Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:44
Old Harbor, Kodiak, AK, AKUnited States1,4360.14Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 06:01
North Spit, Humboldt Bay, CA, CAUnited States1,4640.12Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 05:46
D46411 Bpr, NW of San Francisco, CA, CAUnited States1,545Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height)
D46403 Bpr, SE of Shumagin Is, AK, AKUnited States1,670Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Arena Cove, CA, CAUnited States1,6710.35Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 06:01
Chignik, AK, AKUnited States1,7330.18Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 06:54
Point Reyes, CA, CAUnited States1,7890.24Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 06:19
Richmond, CA, CAUnited States1,8140.09Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 07:08
San Francisco, CA, CAUnited States1,8250.14Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 06:52
Alameda, CA, CAUnited States1,8340.11Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 07:12
Sand Point, AK, AKUnited States1,8680.06Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 06:48
Monterey, CA, CAUnited States1,9680.14Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 06:34
Port San Luis, CA, CAUnited States2,1520.27Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 06:58
D46402 Bpr, S of Dutch Harbor, AK, AKUnited States2,186Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Unalaska, Dutch Harbor, AK, AKUnited States2,2740.07Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 07:33
Santa Monica, CA, CAUnited States2,3500.08Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 07:23
Los Angeles, CA, CAUnited States2,3880.08Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 07:28
La Jolla, CA, CAUnited States2,5130.05Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 07:41
San Diego, CA, CAUnited States2,5310.05Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 09:04
D46408 Bpr, Northwest Pacific Ocean, AKUnited States2,632Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Atka Island, AK, AKUnited States2,8160.11Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 07:25
Halawa, Molokai, HI, HIUnited States4,095Eyewitness observation of water height
Honouliwai Bay, Molokai, HI, HIUnited States4,100Eyewitness observation of water height
Kahului, Maui, HI, HIUnited States4,1100.79Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:37
Haleiwa, Oahu, HI, HIUnited States4,1130.43Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:301
Mokuoloe-Coconut Is, Oahu, HIUnited States4,1150.09Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:34
Hanalei, Kauai, HI, HIUnited States4,1170.19Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:29
Makapuu Point, Oahu, HI, HIUnited States4,1210.41Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:29
Lahaina, Maui, HI, HIUnited States4,1210.28Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:46
Makapuu Point, Oahu, HI, HIUnited States4,1210.27Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:29
Honolulu, Oahu, HI, HIUnited States4,1310.2Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:44
Waianae, Oahu, HI, HIUnited States4,1320.41Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:35
Nawiliwili, Kauai, HI, HIUnited States4,1360.03Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:29
Barbers Point, Oahu, HI, HIUnited States4,1410.09Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:34
Kaumalapau, Lanai, HI, HIUnited States4,1440.18Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:52
Hilo, Hawaii, HI, HIUnited States4,1690.29Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:37
Kawaihae, Hawaii, HI, HIUnited States4,1700.56Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:42
Kapoho, Hawaii, HI, HIUnited States4,1830.19Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:35
Honokohau, Hawaii, HI, HIUnited States4,2150.09Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:45
D51407 Bpr, SE of Honolulu, HI, HIUnited States4,239Deep ocean gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Honuapo, Hawaii, HI, HIUnited States4,2550.04Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:30
French Frigate Shoals, HI, HIUnited States4,3110.14Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 08:55
Midway Islands, HIUS Territories4,5940.09Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 09:14
Christmas Island, Line IslandsKiribati6,1000.03Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 10:57
Wake Island, UMUS Territories6,3980.04Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 11:28
FukauraJapan6,4290.06Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Nuku Hiva Island, Marquesas IslandsFrench Polynesia6,8790.16Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 12:20
MeraJapan6,8880.11Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 13:33
Hiva Oa Island, Marquesas IslandsFrench Polynesia6,9670.24Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 12:40
Chichijima IslandJapan7,3780.1Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 14:26
RangiroaFrench Polynesia7,6530.04Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 13:24
AburatsuJapan7,6860.1Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 15:04
HuahineFrench Polynesia7,9140.07Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 13:24
Papeete, TahitiFrench Polynesia7,9710.04Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 13:29
Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, MPUS Territories8,1490.02Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 13:50
FongafaleTuvalu8,2040.02Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 13:38
FunafutiTuvalu8,2060.02Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 13:36
Apia, Upolu IslandSamoa8,2990.06Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 13:47
Pago Pago, American Samoa, ASUS Territories8,2990.08Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 13:44
Rikitea, Mangareva IslandFrench Polynesia8,4140.1Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
RarotongaCook Islands8,6230.15Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 14:29
Lata Wharf, Nendo Is, Santa Cruz IsSolomon Islands9,1640.04Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 14:48
Tarekukure, Taro IslandSolomon Islands9,3750.04Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 16:01
Honiara, GuadalcanalSolomon Islands9,4000.03Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Manus Island, Admiralty IslandsPapua New Guinea9,5510.05Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
Port Vila, Efate IslandVanuatu9,6790.06Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 16:19
Lifou IslandNew Caledonia10,0340.02Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 16:19
Tadine, Mare IslandNew Caledonia10,0600.01Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 16:30
Raoul Island, Fishing RockNew Zealand10,1160.07Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 17:22
Raoul Island, Boat CoveNew Zealand10,1180.06Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 17:20
HiengheneNew Caledonia10,1430.04Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
OuinneNew Caledonia10,1670.08Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 18:42
Juan Fernandez IslandsChile10,8750.03Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 20:14
Lottin PointNew Zealand11,1020.05Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 17:30
ValparaisoChile11,1630.08Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 19:53
AucklandNew Zealand11,1770.05Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
GisborneNew Zealand11,2180.1Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)
TalcahuanoChile11,4340.1Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 21:19
Owenga, Chatham IslandNew Zealand11,5330.14Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 18:38
Point MuratAustralia13,4980.05Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height)day 28, 13:49

More

Every tsunami in 2012The 2000sTsunamis of CanadaThe 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 5467.