Historical tsunamis · Feb 2, 1931, 10:46 PM UTC
1931 N. New Zealand tsunami
New Zealand
The tsunami of Feb 2, 1931, 10:46 PM UTC originated near N. New Zealand (New Zealand).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 2, 1931, 10:46 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake and landslide
- Magnitude
- M7.7
- Depth
- 35 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 15.0 m
- Deaths
- 261
- Injuries
- 400
- Damage
- US$ 25 million
- Observation records
- 6
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake at a depth of 35 km.
The highest documented water height was 15.0 m (Waikare River, New Zealand).
6 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records 261 deaths.
Damage is estimated at US$ 25 million.
Map of observation sites
6Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 5 | 15.0 m Waikare River | — | — |
 Australia | 1 | 0.20 m Sydney | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
6 / 6Individual documented observations for this event. Heights come from different measurement types and sources; not every location has a measured height.
| Location / station | Observed height | Distance from source | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waikare River | 15.00 m | 113 km | New Zealand |
| Wairoa | 3.00 m | 145 km | New Zealand |
| Clifton | 2.00 m | 85 km | New Zealand |
| Sydney | 0.20 m | 2,299 km | Australia |
| Napier Classified as doubtful | — | 84 km | New Zealand |
| Waikokopu | — | 174 km | New Zealand |
More tsunamis
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Historical Tsunami Database. Confirmed events only. Deaths and damage are database estimates; older records are incomplete. Water heights come from different types of observation.