Tsunamis in 480 BC

September 29, 480 BC Tsunami: Saronic Gulf, Greece

September 29, 480 BC · Very doubtful tsunami

A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at Saronic Gulf, Greece on September 29, 480 BC.

Where the waves reached

The source of the tsunami. No runup with a place is recorded for it.

  • 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
September 29, 480 BC
Source
Saronic Gulf, Greece
Cause
Earthquake
Earthquake
The earthquake
Runups recorded
0
Waters
Ocean
How certain
Very doubtful tsunami
Source location
37.900° N, 23.500° E

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.

480 B.C. September, Saronic Gulf. According to Herodotus an earthquake as felt on shore and at sea, probably in the Saronic Gulf. (reference #9116)

Earthquake in the morning in the land and in the sea. (reference #2427)

More

Every tsunami in 480 BCThe 400s BCTsunamis of GreeceThe 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 3469.