World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1966
Historic Tsunami
1966 Solomon Islands Tsunami
31 December 1966 · Santa Cruz Islands · Solomon Islands
On 31 December 1966 at 18:23 UTC, a tsunami formed near Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands. It was caused by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. Waves reached up to 2.0 m high. It was observed at 4 locations in 4 countries or territories, up to 8,843 km from its source.
- Date
- 31 December 1966
- Time
- 18:23 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.8
- Highest Wave
- 2.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 4
- Furthest Reach
- 8,843 km
- Source Country
- Solomon Islands
- Triggering Earthquake
- M 7.8, 1966
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 1Solomon Islands · 2.0 m
- 1Fiji · 0.1 m
- 1United States of America
- 1Chile
Highest Waves
- 2.0 mVanikolo (Vanikoro), Santa Cruz Is. · Solomon Islands · 65 km
- 0.1 mSuva, King'S Wharf · Fiji · 1,461 km
- 0.0 mPago Pago, American Samoa · United States of America · 2,493 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2013Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands · 11.0 m10 deaths
- 1997Santa Cruz Is. Vanuatu, Solomon Islands · 3.0 m
- 1977Solomon Islands · 0.2 m34 deaths
- 1965Vanuatu Islands, Vanuatu · 2.0 m
- 1965Vanuatu Islands, Vanuatu · 7.0 m
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth