Historical tsunamis · Dec 26, 1975, 3:56 PM UTC
1975 Samoa Islands tsunami
Samoa
The tsunami of Dec 26, 1975, 3:56 PM UTC originated near Samoa Islands (Samoa).
Key facts
- Date
- Dec 26, 1975, 3:56 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.8
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.38 m
- Observation records
- 3
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.38 m (Pago Pago, American Samoa, USA Territory).
3 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
3Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA Territory | 1 | 0.38 m Pago Pago, American Samoa | — | — |
| Samoa | 1 | 0.08 m Apia, Upolu Island | — | — |
 Fiji | 1 | 0.04 m Suva, King's Wharf | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
3 / 3Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pago Pago, American Samoa · As | 0.38 m | 291 km | USA Territory |
| Apia, Upolu Island | 0.08 m | 280 km | Samoa |
| Suva, King's Wharf | 0.04 m | 991 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.