Historical tsunamis · Mar 18, 1983, 9:05 AM UTC
1983 New Britain tsunami
Papua New Guinea
The tsunami of Mar 18, 1983, 9:05 AM UTC originated near New Britain (Papua New Guinea).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 18, 1983, 9:05 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.9
- Depth
- 89 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.13 m
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake at a depth of 89 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.13 m (Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papua New Guinea | 3 | 0.13 m Rabaul, New Britain | — | — |
| USA Territory | 1 | 0.02 m Apra Harbor, Guam | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabaul, New Britain · East New Britain | 0.13 m | 172 km | Papua New Guinea |
| Apra Harbor, Guam · Gu Classified as doubtful | 0.02 m | 2,253 km | USA Territory |
| Feni Islands | — | 98 km | Papua New Guinea |
| SE. Coast of New Ireland | — | 68 km | Papua New Guinea |
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.