Historical tsunamis · Feb 1, 1974, 3:12 AM UTC
1974 Solomon Islands tsunami
Solomon Islands
The tsunami of Feb 1, 1974, 3:12 AM UTC originated near Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 1, 1974, 3:12 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.1
- Depth
- 40 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 2.30 m
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake at a depth of 40 km.
The highest documented water height was 2.30 m (Choiseul, Solomon Islands).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solomon Islands | 3 | 2.30 m Choiseul | — | — |
 Papua New Guinea | 1 | 0.50 m Torokina, Bougainville Island | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choiseul | 2.30 m | 158 km | Solomon Islands |
| Torokina, Bougainville Island · Bougainville | 0.50 m | 142 km | Papua New Guinea |
| Honiara, Guadalcanal | 0.15 m | 530 km | Solomon Islands |
| Shortland Islands | — | 45 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.