Rare ‘30-foot’ Meteotsunami Strikes Argentina Beach, One Dead (Video)

According to The Sun: “While the main wave itself isn’t visible in the footage, eyewitnesses told local media it rose to an astonishing 30ft before slamming into beachgoers.”

Tragically, during the rare incident, a 29-year-old was reportedly killed. Yair Amir Manno Nunez, an Argentinian national who had been living in France but was back home on holiday, was slammed head-first into the rocks as a result of the freak wave.

After the waves subsided, lifeguards performed CPR on Nunez, but he could not be saved.

During the incident, at least 35 others were also injured.

So, what exactly is a meteotsunami, and how does it differ from a traditional tsunami? Turns out, scientists are still learning about them, too. Here’s NOAA:

“Meteotsunamis are large waves that scientists are just beginning to better understand. Unlike tsunamis triggered by seismic activity, meteotsunamis are driven by air-pressure disturbances often associated with fast-moving weather events, such as severe thunderstorms, squalls, and other storm fronts. The storm generates a wave that moves towards the shore, and is amplified by a shallow continental shelf and inlet, bay, or other coastal feature.”

NOAA notes that meteotsunamis “have been observed to reach heights of 6 feet or more.” So, if the reports are to be believed about a “30-foot” wave in Argentina, that’s a whole new level for the freak meteorological phenomenon.