Historical tsunamis · Apr 7, 1995, 10:06 PM UTC
1995 Samoa Islands tsunami
Samoa
The tsunami of Apr 7, 1995, 10:06 PM UTC originated near Samoa Islands (Samoa).
Key facts
- Date
- Apr 7, 1995, 10:06 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.4
- Depth
- 21 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.09 m
- Observation records
- 3
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake at a depth of 21 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.09 m (Pago Pago, American Samoa, USA Territory).
3 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
3Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA Territory | 1 | 0.09 m Pago Pago, American Samoa | — | — |
 Vanuatu | 1 | 0.04 m Port Vila, Efate Island | — | — |
 Niue | 1 | 0.03 m Niue | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
3 / 3Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pago Pago, American Samoa · As | 0.09 m | 322 km | USA Territory |
| Port Vila, Efate Island | 0.04 m | 12,328 km | Vanuatu |
| Niue | 0.03 m | 574 km | Niue |
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.