Historical tsunamis · Oct 3, 1931, 7:13 PM UTC
1931 San Cristobal Island tsunami
Solomon Islands
The tsunami of Oct 3, 1931, 7:13 PM UTC originated near San Cristobal Island (Solomon Islands).
Key facts
- Date
- Oct 3, 1931, 7:13 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.8
- Depth
- 35 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 9.00 m
- Deaths
- 50
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 13
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake at a depth of 35 km.
The highest documented water height was 9.00 m (San Cristobal Island, Solomon Islands).
13 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Honolulu, Oahu, Hi (United States) after 7:30 h.
The database records 50 deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
13Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Tsunami arrival times
Documented arrival times from the NOAA/NCEI database, showing the earliest recorded location per country. Coverage is incomplete: a country without an entry was not necessarily spared.
- 0:00 hEarthquake (origin) · Oct 3, 1931, 7:13 PM UTC
- 7:30 hUnited States · Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · 0.05 m
- 14:39 hCanada · Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · 0.03 m
3 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solomon Islands | 4 | 9.00 m San Cristobal Island | 50 | — |
 New Caledonia | 1 | 1.30 m Hienghene | — | — |
 United States | 7 | 0.11 m Hilo, Hawaii, Hi | — | 7:30 h |
 Canada | 1 | 0.03 m Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia | — | 14:39 h |
Highest documented water heights
13 / 13Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Cristobal Island | 9.00 m | 146 km | Solomon Islands |
| Port Mary, Santa Ana Island | 3.00 m | 158 km | Solomon Islands |
| Kirakira, San Cristobal Island | 2.00 m | 112 km | Solomon Islands |
| Hienghene | 1.30 m | 1,158 km | New Caledonia |
| Hilo, Hawaii, Hi · Hi | 0.11 m | 5,889 km | United States |
| Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · Hi | 0.05 m | 5,738 km | United States |
| Santa Barbara, Ca · Ca | 0.04 m | 9,730 km | United States |
| Balboa, Ca · Ca | 0.03 m | 9,866 km | United States |
| La Jolla, Ca · Ca | 0.03 m | 9,906 km | United States |
| San Diego, Ca · Ca | 0.03 m | 9,910 km | United States |
| San Francisco, Ca · Ca | 0.03 m | 9,591 km | United States |
| Tofino (Clayoquot),British Columbia · Bc | 0.03 m | 9,721 km | Canada |
| Tulagi, Tulaghi Island | — | 224 km | Solomon Islands |
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.