Historical tsunamis · Oct 14, 1997, 9:53 AM UTC
1997 Tonga Islands tsunami
Tonga
The tsunami of Oct 14, 1997, 9:53 AM UTC originated near Tonga Islands (Tonga).
Key facts
- Date
- Oct 14, 1997, 9:53 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.7
- Depth
- 167 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.10 m
- Observation records
- 1
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake at a depth of 167 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.10 m (Suva, King's Wharf, Fiji).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Fiji | 1 | 0.10 m Suva, King's Wharf | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suva, King's Wharf | 0.10 m | 667 km | Fiji |
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.