Historic Tsunami

1997 Solomon Islands Tsunami

21 April 1997 · Santa Cruz Is. Vanuatu · Solomon Islands

On 21 April 1997 at 12:02 UTC, a tsunami formed near Santa Cruz Is. Vanuatu, Solomon Islands. It was caused by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake. Waves reached up to 3.0 m high. It was observed at 41 locations in 7 countries or territories, up to 6,575 km from its source.

Date

21 April 1997

Time

12:02 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

7.7

Highest Wave

3.0 m

Observation Sites

41

Furthest Reach

6,575 km

Homes Destroyed

7

Source Country

Solomon Islands

Triggering Earthquake

M 7.7, 1997

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 3Vanuatu · 3.0 m
• 1Solomon Islands · 3.0 m
• 31Japan · 0.2 m
• 1Tuvalu · 0.1 m
• 1Fiji · 0.1 m
• 3Australia
• 1Naoero

Highest Waves

• 3.0 mHiu Island · Vanuatu · 63 km
• 0.2 mPort Vila, Efate Island · Vanuatu · 598 km
• 0.2 mTosa-Shimizu · Japan · 6,169 km
• 0.2 mChichijima Island · Japan · 5,125 km
• 0.2 mTanegashima · Japan · 6,127 km
• 0.1 mNaze · Japan · 6,047 km
• 0.1 mOkada · Japan · 5,983 km
• 0.1 mFunafuti · Tuvalu · 1,442 km
• 0.1 mSuva, King'S Wharf · Fiji · 1,402 km
• 0.1 mMakurazaki · Japan · 6,216 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2015Vanuatu Islands, Vanuatu · 8.0 m
• 2013Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands · 11.0 m10 deaths
• 1999Vanuatu Islands, Vanuatu · 6.6 m10 deaths
• 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