World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1977
Historic Tsunami
1977 Solomon Islands Tsunami
20 April 1977 · Solomon Islands
On 20 April 1977 at 23:13 UTC, a tsunami formed near the Solomon Islands. It was caused by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake. Waves reached up to 0.2 m high. It was observed at 7 locations in 4 countries or territories, up to 2,933 km from its source. It killed at least 34 people.
- Date
- 20 April 1977
- Time
- 23:13 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 6.8
- Highest Wave
- 0.2 m
- Observation Sites
- 7
- Furthest Reach
- 2,933 km
- Deaths
- 34
- Source Country
- Solomon Islands
- Triggering Earthquake
- M 6.8, 1977
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 1Solomon Islands · 0.2 m
- 4Australia · 0.1 m
- 1Papua New Guinea
- 1Samoa
Highest Waves
- 0.2 mHoniara, Guadalcanal · Solomon Islands · 372 km
- 0.1 mTownsville, Queensland · Australia · 2,058 km
- 0.0 mRabaul, New Britain · Papua New Guinea · 1,378 km
- 0.0 mApia, Upolu Island · Samoa · 2,749 km
- 0.0 mCairns · Australia · 2,054 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2016Solomon Islands · 0.4 m1 deaths
- 2013Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands · 11.0 m10 deaths
- 1988Solomon Islands · 0.1 m1 deaths
- 1977Solomon Islands · 0.0 m18 deaths
- 1939Solomon Islands · 10.5 m12 deaths
- 1931San Cristobal Island, Solomon Islands · 9.0 m50 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth