Historical tsunamis · Oct 16, 1987, 8:48 PM UTC
1987 Solomon Sea tsunami
Papua New Guinea
The tsunami of Oct 16, 1987, 8:48 PM UTC originated near Solomon Sea (Papua New Guinea).
Key facts
- Date
- Oct 16, 1987, 8:48 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.4
- Depth
- 48 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.07 m
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake at a depth of 48 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.07 m (Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea).
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
2Each 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 | 2 | 0.07 m Rabaul, New Britain | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
2 / 2Individual 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 | 0.07 m | 413 km | Papua New Guinea |
| Kandrian, New Britain | — | 54 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.