1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake

An undersea earthquake near the Aleutian Islands of Alaska on 1 April, at 12:29 GMT, sent waves across the Pacific, striking Unimak Island shortly afterwards and reaching Hawaii with particular force. Run-up on Unimak reached 42 m and the newly built Scotch Cap Lighthouse was obliterated, killing all five of its keepers. The effect on the Alaskan mainland was almost imperceptible. Damage was put at over $26 million in 1946 dollars.

Date and time (UTC)

1946-04-01T12:29

Highest recorded water height (m)

42

Cause, as the catalogue records it

earthquake and landslide

Magnitude of the causing earthquake

8.6

Deaths, as sources state them

159 in Hawaii, and more than 165 in total; estimates differ

NCEI event page

www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/tsunami/event-more-info/1762

Category: Disasters & Incidents

Tags: earthquake, landslide, alaska, pacific, hawaii

Coordinates: 53.492, -162.832

Part of Tsunamis with waves of 15 metres or more from 1900 to 1949

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