Historic Tsunami

1975 Papua New Guinea Tsunami

20 July 1975 · Solomon Sea · Papua New Guinea

On 20 July 1975 at 14:37 UTC, a tsunami formed near Solomon Sea, Papua New Guinea. It was caused by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake. Waves reached up to 2.0 m high. It was observed at 18 locations in 4 countries or territories, up to 5,605 km from its source.

Date

20 July 1975

Time

14:37 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

7.9

Highest Wave

2.0 m

Observation Sites

18

Furthest Reach

5,605 km

Source Country

Papua New Guinea

Triggering Earthquake

M 7.9, 1975

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 4Papua New Guinea · 2.0 m
• 12Japan · 0.1 m
• 1Marshall Islands, Rep. Of · 0.1 m
• 1Australia

Highest Waves

• 1.0 mMamagota, Bougainville · Papua New Guinea · 42 km
• 1.0 mTorokina, Bougainville Island · Papua New Guinea · 38 km
• 0.1 mHanasaki · Japan · 5,605 km
• 0.1 mKieta, Bougainville Island · Papua New Guinea · 76 km
• 0.1 mAburatsu · Japan · 4,915 km
• 0.1 mHachinohe · Japan · 5,398 km
• 0.1 mKushimoto · Japan · 4,878 km
• 0.1 mHiroo · Japan · 5,542 km
• 0.1 mKwajalein, Marshall Islands · Marshall Islands, Rep. Of · 2,202 km
• 0.1 mChichijima Island · Japan · 3,976 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2017Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea · 0.0 m3 deaths
• 2007Solomon Islands · 12.1 m52 deaths
• 1994Papua New Guinea · 3.0 m4 deaths
• 1971Solomon Sea, Papua New Guinea · 6.0 m3 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