World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1998
Historic Tsunami
1998 Papua New Guinea Tsunami
17 July 1998 · Papua New Guinea
On 17 July 1998 at 08:49 UTC, a tsunami formed near Papua New Guinea. It was caused by an earthquake and landslide. Waves reached up to 15.0 m high. It was observed at 93 locations in 5 countries or territories, up to 5,397 km from its source. It killed at least 1,636 people and injured 1,000. It is the 39th deadliest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.
- Date
- 17 July 1998
- Time
- 08:49 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake and landslide
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.0
- Highest Wave
- 15.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 93
- Furthest Reach
- 5,397 km
- Deaths
- 1,636
- Injuries
- 1,000
- Source Country
- Papua New Guinea
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1998 Papua New Guinea Earthquake
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 49Papua New Guinea · 15.0 m2,205 deaths
- 38Japan · 0.2 m
- 3New Zealand · 0.1 m
- 2Federated States of Micronesia
- 1Palau
Highest Waves
- 15.0 mArop · Papua New Guinea · 54 km862 deaths
- 11.9 mMalol · Papua New Guinea · 47 km95 deaths
- 11.0 mWestern Spit, Sissano Lagoon · Papua New Guinea · 57 km
- 10.8 mEastern Spit, Sissano Lagoon · Papua New Guinea · 53 km
- 10.0 mSissano · Papua New Guinea · 59 km170 deaths
- 10.0 mTeles · Papua New Guinea · 40 km5 deaths
- 9.6 mEastern Spit, Sissano Lagoon · Papua New Guinea · 53 km
- 9.4 mMalol · Papua New Guinea · 50 km
- 8.0 mWarapu · Papua New Guinea · 57 km1,071 deaths
- 7.6 mEastern Spit, Sissano Lagoon · Papua New Guinea · 53 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2002Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea · 5.5 m4 deaths
- 1999Kasu Cone, Papua New Guinea · 15.0 m1 deaths
- 1970Papua New Guinea · 3.0 m18 deaths
- 1930Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea · 12.0 m27 deaths
- 1900Bismarck Sea, Indonesia5 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth