Historical tsunamis · Jan 14, 1976, 4:47 PM UTC
1976 Kermadec Islands tsunami
New Zealand
The tsunami of Jan 14, 1976, 4:47 PM UTC originated near Kermadec Islands (New Zealand).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 14, 1976, 4:47 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.9
- Depth
- 15 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.90 m
- Observation records
- 18
- Countries affected
- 8
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake at a depth of 15 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.90 m (Southern Fiji, Fiji).
18 observation sites in 8 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Quepos (Costa Rica) after 15:19 h.
Map of observation sites
18Each 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) · Jan 14, 1976, 4:47 PM UTC
- 2:53 hNew Zealand · Tutukaka · 0.75 m
- 15:19 hCosta Rica · Quepos · 0.05 m
2 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fiji | 2 | 0.90 m Southern Fiji | — | — |
| New Zealand | 4 | 0.75 m Tutukaka | — | 2:53 h |
 Australia | 2 | 0.30 m Lord Howe I. | — | — |
 Mexico | 5 | 0.24 m Acapulco | — | — |
 United States | 2 | 0.15 m Kahului, Maui, Hi | — | — |
 Samoa | 1 | 0.07 m Apia, Upolu Island | — | — |
 Costa Rica | 1 | 0.05 m Quepos | — | 15:19 h |
| USA Territory | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 18Individual 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 Fiji | 0.90 m | 1,295 km | Fiji |
| Tutukaka | 0.75 m | 1,038 km | New Zealand |
| Lord Howe I. | 0.30 m | 2,269 km | Australia |
| Acapulco · Guerrero | 0.24 m | 9,755 km | Mexico |
| Suva, King's Wharf | 0.23 m | 1,295 km | Fiji |
| Manzanillo · Colima | 0.21 m | 9,488 km | Mexico |
| Mount Maunganui | 0.20 m | 1,107 km | New Zealand |
| Salina Cruz · Oaxaca | 0.18 m | 10,150 km | Mexico |
| Kahului, Maui, Hi · Hi | 0.15 m | 5,981 km | United States |
| Puerto Vallarta · Jalisco | 0.14 m | 9,505 km | Mexico |
| Auckland | 0.10 m | 1,117 km | New Zealand |
| Cabo San Lucas · Baja California Sur | 0.08 m | 9,246 km | Mexico |
| Apia, Upolu Island | 0.07 m | 1,799 km | Samoa |
| Quepos | 0.05 m | 10,835 km | Costa Rica |
| Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · Hi | 0.03 m | 5,969 km | United States |
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.