Historic Tsunami

2000 Papua New Guinea Tsunami

16 November 2000 · Bismarck Sea · Papua New Guinea

On 16 November 2000 at 04:54 UTC, a tsunami formed near Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea. It was caused by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake. Waves reached up to 3.0 m high. It was observed at 10 locations in 3 countries or territories, up to 2,313 km from its source. It killed at least 2 people.

Date

16 November 2000

Time

04:54 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

8.0

Highest Wave

3.0 m

Observation Sites

10

Furthest Reach

2,313 km

Deaths

2

Source Country

Papua New Guinea

Triggering Earthquake

2000 New Ireland Earthquakes

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 7Papua New Guinea · 3.0 m
• 2Solomon Islands · 1.0 m
• 1Vanuatu · 0.1 m

Highest Waves

• 3.0 mTorokina, Bougainville Island · Papua New Guinea · 390 km
• 3.0 mBuka Island · Papua New Guinea · 290 km
• 3.0 mNew Ireland · Papua New Guinea · 83 km
• 1.0 mRabaul, New Britain · Papua New Guinea · 29 km
• 1.0 mKokopo, New Britain · Papua New Guinea · 39 km
• 1.0 mTrobriand Islands (Kiriwina Is) · Papua New Guinea · 539 km
• 1.0 mGizo Island · Solomon Islands · 669 km
• 1.0 mNoro · Solomon Islands · 715 km
• 0.1 mPort Vila, Efate Island · Vanuatu · 2,313 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2017Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea · 0.0 m3 deaths
• 1994Papua New Guinea · 3.0 m4 deaths
• 1971Solomon Sea, Papua New Guinea · 10.0 m
• 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