Crescent City warns about tsunami danger

• The city of Crescent City reported a tsunami wave of up to 4 feet.
• In 1964, the city was hit by the strongest tsunami in the U.S.
• Officials are warning about the danger of tsunami flooding beaches.

CRESCENT CITY, California — Officials have warned residents to stay away from tsunami flooding beaches and water in the small coastal city, which has historically been impacted by tsunamis, including one that became deadly more than 60 years ago.

On Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in a city with a population of 6,600, no evacuations were ordered, but the dock at the port of the city reported flooding. Approximately at 2:40 a.m., water rose at the dock and it was briefly submerged, reported port manager Michael Rademecker. The dock was designed to withstand wave force before they reached the internal harbor, and according to him, it worked as planned.

The city did not report flooding, and the central part remained open in the middle of the harbor. However, residents were warned about possible tsunamis, especially since harbor officials observed strong swells with wave heights of up to 4 feet (1.22 meters).

This city is known for its tsunamis through the submerged reef, which is known as the Mendocino zone, that focuses wave energy. Since the installation of measuring devices to monitor water levels in 1933, the city has recorded 41 tsunamis.

The strongest tsunami occurred in 1964, when 13 people were killed in California by a wave more than 21 feet (6.4 meters) high. During that event, 124 people were killed, including 106 in Alaska, 13 in California, and 5 in Oregon.

The city recalls that tsunamis can happen at any moment, and if there is an earthquake, residents will need to know how many waves to reach a safe place. Officials emphasized that while conditions are improving, it is still unsafe to go to the beach.

Tags: USA/Weather