Historical tsunamis · Aug 17, 1959, 9:04 PM UTC
1959 Solomon Islands tsunami
Solomon Islands
The tsunami of Aug 17, 1959, 9:04 PM UTC originated near Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands).
Key facts
- Date
- Aug 17, 1959, 9:04 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.3
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.00 m
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 5
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.
The highest documented water height was 1.00 m (Emu Harbour, Ranongga Island, Solomon Islands).
5 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
5Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solomon Islands | 5 | 1.00 m Emu Harbour, Ranongga Island | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
5 / 5Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emu Harbour, Ranongga Island | 1.00 m | 78 km | Solomon Islands |
| Baga Island | — | 72 km | Solomon Islands |
| Liapari Island | — | 93 km | Solomon Islands |
| NW of Paramata, Vella Lavella Is | — | 64 km | Solomon Islands |
| Supato, Vella Lavella Island | — | 77 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.