Historical tsunamis · Aug 11, 1965, 10:31 PM UTC
1965 Vanuatu Islands tsunami
Vanuatu
The tsunami of Aug 11, 1965, 10:31 PM UTC originated near Vanuatu Islands (Vanuatu).
Key facts
- Date
- Aug 11, 1965, 10:31 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.0
- Depth
- 13 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 7.00 m
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake at a depth of 13 km.
The highest documented water height was 7.00 m (Malakula (Malekula, Malekoula), Vanuatu).
4 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
4Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanuatu | 3 | 7.00 m Malakula (Malekula, Malekoula) | — | — |
| USA Territory | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
4 / 4Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malakula (Malekula, Malekoula) | 7.00 m | 33 km | Vanuatu |
| Tongoa Island | 2.50 m | 187 km | Vanuatu |
| Port Vila, Efate Island | 1.20 m | 246 km | Vanuatu |
| Pago Pago, American Samoa · As | — | 2,382 km | USA Territory |
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.