Aleutian Island earthquake
Fleeing an approaching tsunami in Hilo, Hawai'i
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| Date | 1 April 1946 |
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| Origin time | 12:28 (UTC) |
| Magnitude | 8.6 Mw |
| Depth | 15 km (9.3 mi) |
| Epicenter | 53°29′N 162°50′W / 53.49°N 162.83°WCoordinates: 53°29′N 162°50′W / 53.49°N 162.83°W |
| Areas affected |
Hawaii, Alaska United States |
| Max. intensity | VI (Strong) |
| Tsunami | Yes |
| Casualties | 165–173 |
The 1946 Aleutian Islands earthquake occurred near the Aleutian Islands, Alaska on April 1. The shock had a moment magnitude of 8.6 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). It resulted in 165–173 casualties and over $26 million in damage. The seafloor along the fault was elevated, triggering a Pacific-wide tsunami with multiple destructive waves at heights ranging from 45–130 ft. The tsunami obliterated the Scotch Cap Lighthouse on Unimak Island, Alaska among others, and killed all five lighthouse keepers. Despite the destruction to the Aleutian Island Unimak, the tsunami had almost an imperceptible effect on the Alaskan mainland. The wave reached Kauai, Hawaii 4.5 hours after the quake, and Hilo, Hawaii 4.9 hours later. These Hawaiian natives were caught completely off-guard by the onset of the tsunami due to the inability to transmit any warnings from the destroyed posts at Scotch Cap. The effects of the tsunami also reached the West Coast of the United States.
The tsunami was unusually powerful for the size of the earthquake. The event was classified as a tsunami earthquake due to the discrepancy between the size of the tsunami and the relatively low surface wave magnitude. The large-scale destruction prompted the creation of the Seismic Sea Wave Warning System, which later became the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in 1949.
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