On October 9, 1963, at 21 hours and 39 minutes UTC, a destructive tsunami occurred at the Vajont Dam along the Vajont River in Italy. According to the NOAA/NCEI Global Historical Tsunami Database, the event resulted in 2,000 deaths and produced a recorded maximum water height of 235.0 meters.
Event Location and Geographic Details
The tsunami took place in Italy at coordinates 46.267 latitude and 12.329 longitude. The specific location listed in the official record is the Vajont Dam on the Vajont River.
Measurements and Impact
The historical record documents several key metrics regarding the severity of the event:
- Maximum Water Height: 235.0 meters
- Deaths: 2,000 fatalities
- Validity: Rated 4 in the database
- Cause Code: 8
This event is classified within the NOAA/NCEI database under validity code 4, denoting a definite tsunami occurrence, and is attributed to cause code 8 based on the database's classification system.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Vajont Dam tsunami occur?
The tsunami occurred on October 9, 1963, at 21:39 UTC.
What was the maximum water height recorded during the event?
The recorded maximum water height reached 235.0 meters.
How many fatalities were recorded from the Vajont River tsunami?
The official historical record reports 2,000 deaths.
Sources and further context
Official datasets support the event-specific facts.