According to the Instituto Geografico Nacional, at least 24 tsunamis have hit the coasts of Spain since 218 BC. In addition to the famous Lisbon tsunami of 1755, the worst was the wave which struck the coasts of Cadiz and Huelva in 1775. The last recorded tsunami was caused by an earthquake off Algeria on 21st May 2003, which sent a small tsunami crashing into the coasts of the Balearic islands and causing considerable damage to boats and port facilities.

The northwest coast of Tenerife was destroyed by at least two massive tsunamis makes between 150,000 and 180,000 years ago. The waves towered 50 metres high and swept some 800 metres inland in an area of several square kilometers. There is no comparable risk of Tsunamis today on the island.