Historic Tsunami

1971 Papua New Guinea Tsunami

14 July 1971 · Solomon Sea · Papua New Guinea

On 14 July 1971 at 06:11 UTC, a tsunami formed near Solomon Sea, Papua New Guinea. It was caused by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake. Waves reached up to 6.0 m high. It was observed at 33 locations in 5 countries or territories, up to 6,716 km from its source. It killed at least 3 people and injured 5.

Date

14 July 1971

Time

06:11 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

7.9

Highest Wave

6.0 m

Observation Sites

33

Furthest Reach

6,716 km

Deaths

3

Injuries

5

Estimated Damage

0 million US dollars

Source Country

Papua New Guinea

Triggering Earthquake

1971 Solomon Islands Earthquakes

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 8Papua New Guinea · 6.0 m1 deaths
• 1Marshall Islands, Rep. Of · 0.2 m
• 8United States of America · 0.1 m
• 15Japan · 0.1 m
• 1Federated States of Micronesia · 0.1 m

Highest Waves

• 6.0 mLambon Island, New Ireland · Papua New Guinea · 141 km
• 3.0 mPomio, New Britain · Papua New Guinea · 264 km
• 2.0 mRabaul, New Britain · Papua New Guinea · 238 km
• 1.5 mSohano, Madehas Island · Papua New Guinea · 81 km
• 0.2 mKwajalein, Marshall Islands · Marshall Islands, Rep. Of · 2,199 km
• 0.2 mAnewa Bay, Bougainville · Papua New Guinea · 198 km
• 0.1 mKahului, Maui, Hi · United States of America · 6,156 km
• 0.1 mOnahama · Japan · 4,888 km
• 0.1 mHanasaki · Japan · 5,467 km
• 0.1 mHilo, Hawaii, Hi · United States of America · 6,245 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2017Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea · 0.0 m3 deaths
• 2007Solomon Islands · 12.1 m52 deaths
• 2000Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea · 3.0 m2 deaths
• 1994Papua New Guinea · 3.0 m4 deaths
• 1941Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea · 0.2 m4 deaths
• 1937Rabaul, Papua New Guinea · 2.5 m507 deaths

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