Historic Tsunami

2007 Solomon Islands Tsunami

1 April 2007 · Solomon Islands

On 1 April 2007 at 20:39 UTC, a tsunami formed near the Solomon Islands. It was caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake. Waves reached up to 12.1 m high. It was observed at 248 locations in 11 countries or territories, up to 10,125 km from its source. It killed at least 52 people.

Date

1 April 2007

Time

20:39 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

8.1

Highest Wave

12.1 m

Observation Sites

248

Furthest Reach

10,125 km

Deaths

52

Homes Destroyed

2,500

Source Country

Solomon Islands

Triggering Earthquake

2007 Solomon Islands Earthquake

Countries and Territories Reached

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

• 191Solomon Islands · 12.1 m50 deaths
• 12Papua New Guinea · 3.5 m
• 18New Caledonia · 2.0 m
• 9New Zealand · 0.5 m
• 9United States of America · 0.1 m
• 1Vanuatu · 0.1 m
• 3Australia · 0.1 m
• 1Tonga · 0.1 m
• 1Fiji
• 2Marshall Islands, Rep. Of
• 1Federated States of Micronesia

Highest Waves

• 12.1 mTapurai, Simbo Island · Solomon Islands · 61 km7 deaths
• 9.6 mTapurai, Simbo Island · Solomon Islands · 61 km
• 9.5 mTapurai, Simbo Island · Solomon Islands · 61 km
• 8.6 mTanamalo, Simbo Island · Solomon Islands · 59 km
• 8.6 mTapurai, Simbo Island · Solomon Islands · 61 km
• 8.5 mTapurai, Simbo Island · Solomon Islands · 61 km
• 8.3 mTapurai, Simbo Island · Solomon Islands · 61 km
• 7.7 mTapurai, Simbo Island · Solomon Islands · 61 km
• 7.4 mTapurai, Simbo Island · Solomon Islands · 61 km
• 6.9 mTapurai, Simbo Island · Solomon Islands · 61 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2017Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea · 0.0 m3 deaths
• 2010Solomon Islands · 7.5 m
• 1988Solomon Islands · 0.1 m1 deaths
• 1977Solomon Islands · 0.0 m18 deaths
• 1971Solomon Sea, Papua New Guinea · 6.0 m3 deaths
• 1939Solomon Islands · 10.5 m12 deaths

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth