World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1995
Historic Tsunami
1995 New Caledonia Tsunami
16 May 1995 · Loyalty Islands · New Caledonia
On 16 May 1995 at 20:12 UTC, a tsunami formed near Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. It was caused by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. Waves reached up to 8.0 m high. It was observed at 11 locations in 8 countries or territories, up to 3,129 km from its source.
- Date
- 16 May 1995
- Time
- 20:12 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.7
- Highest Wave
- 8.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 11
- Furthest Reach
- 3,129 km
- Source Country
- New Caledonia
- Triggering Earthquake
- M 7.7, 1995
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 3Vanuatu · 8.0 m
- 1United States of America · 0.1 m
- 2Fiji
- 1Samoa
- 1Tonga
- 1Cook Islands
- 1Australia
- 1New Caledonia
Highest Waves
- 8.0 mAneityum, Vanuatu Islands · Vanuatu · 311 km
- 1.5 mErakor Island · Vanuatu · 603 km
- 0.2 mPort Vila, Efate Island · Vanuatu · 605 km
- 0.1 mPago Pago, American Samoa · United States of America · 2,261 km
- 0.0 mLautoka · Fiji · 988 km
- 0.0 mSuva, King'S Wharf · Fiji · 1,039 km
- 0.0 mApia, Upolu Island · Samoa · 2,185 km
- 0.0 mNukualofa (Nuku'Alofa) · Tonga · 1,553 km
- 0.0 mRarotonga · Cook Islands · 3,129 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2018Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia · 4.0 m
- 2010Vanuatu Islands, Vanuatu · 4.1 m
- 1997New Caledonia · 2.0 m
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth