World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 2002
Historic Tsunami
2002 Papua New Guinea Tsunami
8 September 2002 · Bismarck Sea · Papua New Guinea
On 8 September 2002 at 18:44 UTC, a tsunami formed near Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea. It was caused by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake. Waves reached up to 5.5 m high. It was observed at 88 locations in 5 countries or territories, up to 4,239 km from its source. It killed at least 4 people and injured 70.
- Date
- 8 September 2002
- Time
- 18:44 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.6
- Highest Wave
- 5.5 m
- Observation Sites
- 88
- Furthest Reach
- 4,239 km
- Deaths
- 4
- Injuries
- 70
- Source Country
- Papua New Guinea
- Triggering Earthquake
- M 7.6, 2002
Countries and Territories Reached
Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.
- 68Papua New Guinea · 5.5 m
- 17Japan · 0.2 m
- 1United States of America · 0.1 m
- 1Federated States of Micronesia
- 1Palau
Highest Waves
- 5.5 mKairiru Island, Victoria Bay · Papua New Guinea · 65 km
- 5.0 mVictoria Bay, South · Papua New Guinea · 64 km
- 4.0 mBoiken · Papua New Guinea · 59 km
- 3.1 mShagur 2 · Papua New Guinea · 68 km
- 2.7 mBrauniak · Papua New Guinea · 72 km
- 2.6 mBagatai · Papua New Guinea · 71 km
- 2.6 mBoiken 2 · Papua New Guinea · 60 km
- 2.6 mKarawop · Papua New Guinea · 56 km
- 2.4 mShagur 1 · Papua New Guinea · 68 km
- 2.3 mVictoria Bay, Back · Papua New Guinea · 64 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 1999Kasu Cone, Papua New Guinea · 15.0 m1 deaths
- 1998Papua New Guinea · 15.0 m1,636 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