Historical tsunamis · Sep 14, 1953, 12:26 AM UTC
1953 Fiji Islands tsunami
Fiji
The tsunami of Sep 14, 1953, 12:26 AM UTC originated near Fiji Islands (Fiji).
Key facts
- Date
- Sep 14, 1953, 12:26 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake and landslide
- Magnitude
- M6.4
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 15.0 m
- Deaths
- 8
- Injuries
- 61
- Houses destroyed
- some (about 51–100)
- Damage
- US$ 0.0 million
- Observation records
- 29
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.
The highest documented water height was 15.0 m (Southern Coast Viti Levu Island, Fiji).
29 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Honolulu, Oahu, Hi (United States) after 7:18 h.
The database records 8 deaths.
Houses destroyed: some (about 51–100).
Damage is estimated at US$ 0.0 million.
Map of observation sites
29Each 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) · Sep 14, 1953, 12:26 AM UTC
- 0:05 hFiji · Nasese, Viti Levu Island · 1.50 m
- 7:18 hUnited States · Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · 0.06 m
5 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiji | 23 | 15.0 m Southern Coast Viti Levu Island | 5 | 0:05 h |
| USA Territory | 1 | 0.20 m Pago Pago, American Samoa | — | — |
 United States | 4 | 0.10 m Hilo, Hawaii, Hi | — | 7:18 h |
 Vanuatu | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 29Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Coast Viti Levu Island | 15.00 m | 24 km | Fiji |
| Muaivuso Village, Viti Levu Island | 5.00 m | 26 km | Fiji |
| Nakasaleka, Kandavu Island | 4.57 m | 74 km | Fiji |
| Makuluva Island | 3.70 m | 36 km | Fiji |
| Nukulau Island | 3.50 m | 36 km | Fiji |
| Suva, Viti Levu Island | 3.00 m | 31 km | Fiji |
| Lami, Suburb of Suva | 2.00 m | 31 km | Fiji |
| Deuba, Viti Levu Island | 1.50 m | 16 km | Fiji |
| Koro | 1.50 m | 169 km | Fiji |
| Nasese, Viti Levu Island | 1.50 m | 28 km | Fiji |
| Nukui Village, Viti Levu Island | 1.50 m | 42 km | Fiji |
| Rukua, Mbengga Island (Beqa Island) | 1.50 m | 14 km | Fiji |
| Cawaci, Ovalau Island | 1.20 m | 98 km | Fiji |
| Laucala, Viti Levu Island | 1.00 m | 31 km | Fiji |
| Navua, Viti Levu Island | 1.00 m | 8 km | Fiji |
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.