Historical tsunamis · May 25, 1981, 5:25 AM UTC
1981 New Zealand tsunami
New Zealand
The tsunami of May 25, 1981, 5:25 AM UTC originated near New Zealand (New Zealand).
Key facts
- Date
- May 25, 1981, 5:25 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.30 m
- Observation records
- 1
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.30 m.
1 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
1Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
1 / 1Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell Island | — | 529 km | New Zealand |
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.