Historic Tsunami

1917 Samoa Tsunami

26 June 1917 · Samoa Islands · Samoa

On 26 June 1917 at 05:49 UTC, a tsunami formed near Samoa Islands, Samoa. It was caused by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake. Waves reached up to 12.2 m high. It was observed at 17 locations in 4 countries or territories, up to 8,529 km from its source. It killed at least 2 people.

Date

26 June 1917

Time

05:49 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

8.3

Highest Wave

12.2 m

Observation Sites

17

Furthest Reach

8,529 km

Deaths

2

Source Country

Samoa

Triggering Earthquake

M 8.3, 1917

Countries and Territories Reached

Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.

• 9Samoa · 12.2 m2 deaths
• 2Tonga · 4.2 m
• 5United States of America · 2.4 m
• 1Canada · 0.1 m

Highest Waves

• 4.2 mHaapai · Tonga · 495 km
• 3.1 mUpolu Island · Samoa · 210 km
• 3.0 mAleipata Coast, Upolu Island · Samoa · 236 km
• 2.7 mNiuatoputapu · Tonga · 97 km
• 2.4 mPago Pago, American Samoa · United States of America · 283 km
• 0.4 mApia, Upolu Island · Samoa · 228 km
• 0.1 mHonolulu, Oahu, Hi · United States of America · 4,394 km
• 0.1 mSan Diego, Ca · United States of America · 7,982 km
• 0.1 mTofino (Clayoquot),british Columbia · Canada · 8,529 km
• 0.0 mSan Francisco, Ca · United States of America · 7,916 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2009Samoa Islands, Samoa · 22.4 m192 deaths
• 1919Tonga Islands, Tonga · 2.5 m
• 1907Matavanu Volcano, Samoa · 3.6 m

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth