How many people died in the 1946 Hilo tsunami?

In Hilo, the death toll was high: 173 were killed, 163 injured, 488 buildings were demolished and 936 more were damaged….1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake.

Where did tsunami hit 1946?

On April 1, 1946, an undersea earthquake off the Alaskan coast triggers a massive tsunami that kills 159 people in Hawaii. In the middle of the night, 13,000 feet beneath the ocean surface, a 7.4-magnitude tremor was recorded in the North Pacific.

How fast was the 1946 tsunami moving?

The waves traveled southward to Hawaii with an average speed of roughly 490 miles an hour, a wave length of nearly 100 miles, and a height in the open sea which is thought to have been 2 feet or less.

How did the 1960 tsunami change Hilo?

According to the Pacific Disaster Center, the last three tsunamis that caused significant damage in Hilo occurred in 1946, 1960 and 1975. This tsunami struck Hilo Bay in a succession of seven waves for a duration of 15 minutes. The downtown area of Hilo was torn apart and flooded by the massive wave.

What is the highest tsunami in history?

Lituya Bay
Lituya Bay, Alaska // 1720 Feet. On July 9, 1958, Alaska’s Lituya Bay was hit by the largest megatsunami ever recorded. It occurred when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Fairweather fault, dislodging 90 million tons of rock into the bay.

When did Hawaii have a terrible tsunami?

ON THE morning of April 1, 1946, the Hawaiian Islands experienced the most disastrous tsunami in their history.

How many people died in Hawaii from the tsunami?

Nine tsunamis caused 294 deaths and damage totaling over USD $600 million (2016 dollars), with 88% of the fatalities on Hawai’i island (60% in Hilo). 245 of the 294 deaths were from distant tsunami sources.

Where did the tsunami hit on April 1, 1946?

The tsunami which devastated the shores of the Hawaiian Islands on April 1, 1946, was caused by a movement of the sea bottom on the northern slope of the Aleutian Trough, south of Unimak Island. The waves traveled southward to Hawaii with an average speed of roughly 490 miles an hour, a wave length of nearly 100 miles,…

What did Hilario Aquino do in the 1946 tsunami?

Mr. [Hilario] Aquino said that when the waves hit the church, he was tossed out amidst the children. He swam about rescuing the children and lifting them up into the large trees of the church yard. When the waves subsided, 10 of the children were safely clinging to the trees and their parents all agreed that Mr. Aquino had saved their lives.

What was the cause of the tsunami in Hawaii?

The Tsunami of April 1, 1946. Abstract. The tsunami which devastated the shores of the Hawaiian Islands on April 1, 1946, was caused by a movement of the sea bottom on the northern slope of the Aleutian Trough, south of Unimak Island.

How big was the tsunami that hit Unimak Island?

Unimak Island was hit by the tsunami shortly after the quake. An enormous wave estimated at nearly 100 feet high crashed onto the shore. A lighthouse located 30 feet above sea level, where five people lived, was smashed to pieces by the wave; all five were killed instantly.