Historical tsunamis · May 23, 1989, 10:54 AM UTC
1989 Macquarie Island tsunami
Australia
The tsunami of May 23, 1989, 10:54 AM UTC originated near Macquarie Island (Australia).
Key facts
- Date
- May 23, 1989, 10:54 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.1
- Depth
- 10 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.15 m
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake at a depth of 10 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.15 m.
4 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 4 | 0.10 m Sydney | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 0.10 m | 2,186 km | Australia |
| Eden (Twofold Bay) | — | 1,891 km | Australia |
| Hobart, Tasmania | — | 1,444 km | Australia |
| Jervis Bay | — | 2,067 km | Australia |
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.