What are the biggest tsunamis ever? How July 29 earthquake, tsunami compares.
While not as strong, the magnitude 8.8 earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29 brought tsunami waves to Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States. Tsunami alerts were still in effect in some areas as of 1 p.m. ET July 30, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center.
No deaths have been reported from tsunami waves in this event so far.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has documented nearly 3,000 tsunamis since 1610 BC, according to the Global Historical Tsunami Database.
Here's a look at the ten deadliest tsunamis, according to the database.
10. Pacific Ocean, 1703: more than 5200 dead
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake caused a tsunami that killed more than 5,200 people on Dec. 30, 1703, according to NOAA data.
The event occurred off the southwest Boso Peninsula, which is just south of Tokyo, Japan.
9. Pacific Ocean, 1976: 5,000 to 8,000 dead
On Aug. 16, 1976, a magnitude 8 earthquake hit the Moro Gulf off the coast of the Philippines, per NOAA data.
The resulting tsunami is estimated to have killed between 5,000 and 8,000 people, according to the agency. An additional 10,000 people were injured.
8. Pacific Ocean, 1771: more than 13,000 dead
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake off the coast of Japan caused a deadly tsunami on April 24, 1771, according to NOAA.
More than 13,400 people died in the event, which is believed to have washed away more than 3,000 homes, according to the agency.
7. Pacific Ocean, 1792: approximately 15,000 dead
On May 21, 1792, Mount Unzen, a volcano in southern Japan, erupted, causing underground shocks, according to NOAA.
The resulting tsunami that it caused killed roughly 15,000 people, historical data shows.
6. Pacific Ocean, 2011: more than 18,000 dead
More than 18,000 people died when an earthquake off the northern coast of Japan caused a tsunami on March 11, 2011, according to NOAA.
The earthquake was recorded at a magnitude of 9.1. The ocean water height reached more than 127 feet.
5. Pacific Ocean, 1868: more than 25,000 dead
In what is now Arica, Chile, a magnitude 8.5 earthquake struck on Aug. 13, 1868. Per historical data from NOAA, the quake "generated catastrophic tsunamis that affected the entire Pacific rim and lasted 2-3 days."
More than 25,000 people across South America were killed in the earthquake and tsunami, according to NOAA.
4. Pacific Ocean, 1896: more than 27,000 dead
On June 15, 1896, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Japan, causing a tsunami. According to NOAA data, more than 27,000 people were killed, 9,200 were injured and 10,000 buildings were washed away.
The ocean waves are believed to have crested at up to 124 feet, according to NOAA.
3. Indian Ocean, 1883: more than 36,000 dead
The Krakatau volcano in the Sunda Strait off Indonesia erupted and caused a massive tsunami on Aug. 27, 1883, according to NOAA. Ocean waves reached as high as 130 feet.
More than 36,000 people are estimated to have died in the event.
2. Atlantic Ocean, 1755: up to 50,000 dead
A magnitude 8.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Lisbon, Portugal, on Nov. 1, 1755. The ensuing tsunami triggered waves that crested at up to 59 feet, NOAA found.
Historical data shows that the earthquake and resulting tsunami and fires caused 40,000 to 50,000 deaths in Portugal, Spain and Morocco.
1. Indian Ocean, 2004: more than 227,000 dead
On Dec. 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake hit off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It caused a tsunami that unleashed waves more than 160 feet high, according to NOAA.
The tsunami claimed more than 227,000 lives and displaced millions of people in 12 countries, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
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