A Review on Historical Tsunamis in the Canary Islands: Implications for Tsunami Risk Reduction

Abstract

The analysis of the historical documentary sources together with evidence from the geological record is essential to understand the impact and processes triggered by tsunamis on the Canary Islands. This archipelago has been affected by tsunamis caused by different geological processes, of which the most studied have been those generated by prehistoric mega-landslides. However, there is also evidence of those produced by distant tsunamigenic sources. An exhaustive review of all documentation available was made, identifying the existence of at least four seismically triggered tsunami episodes (1755, 1761, 1941 and 1969), the majority with an epicenter in the Azores-Gibraltar boundary. In this work, several tsunamis are cited for the first time, such as the one produced by the Argaga (La Gomera) landslide in 2020. Other episodes historically identified as tsunamis are discarded as they corresponded to other geological events. The effects of most historic tsunamis have gone unnoticed, having occurred in epochs of sparsely populated coastal areas. But their study allows us to infer the need for the archipelago authorities to establish preventive measures to avoid possible damage from tsunamis, especially if we consider the presently high population density of the Canarian littoral.