Historical tsunamis · Nov 26, 1999, 1:21 PM UTC
1999 Vanuatu Islands tsunami
Vanuatu
The tsunami of Nov 26, 1999, 1:21 PM UTC originated near Vanuatu Islands (Vanuatu).
Key facts
- Date
- Nov 26, 1999, 1:21 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.5
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 6.60 m
- Deaths
- 10
- Injuries
- 100
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 52
- Countries affected
- 13
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.
The highest documented water height was 6.60 m (Baie Martelli, Pentecost Island, Vanuatu).
52 observation sites in 13 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Suva, King's Wharf (Fiji) after 2:00 h.
The database records 10 deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
52Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Tsunami arrival times
Documented arrival times from the NOAA/NCEI database, showing the earliest recorded location per country. Coverage is incomplete: a country without an entry was not necessarily spared.
- 0:00 hEarthquake (origin) · Nov 26, 1999, 1:21 PM UTC
- 0:10 hVanuatu · Baie Martelli, Pentecost Island · 6.60 m
- 2:00 hFiji · Suva, King's Wharf · 1.00 m
3 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanuatu | 13 | 6.60 m Baie Martelli, Pentecost Island | 5 | 0:10 h |
 Fiji | 2 | 1.00 m Suva, King's Wharf | — | 2:00 h |
 Japan | 21 | 0.17 m Ayukawa | — | — |
 United States | 6 | 0.10 m Kahului, Maui, Hi | — | — |
| USA Territory | 2 | 0.10 m Pago Pago, American Samoa | — | — |
 Niue | 1 | 0.07 m Niue | — | — |
 Taiwan | 1 | 0.06 m Su-Ao, Yilan | — | — |
 Samoa | 1 | 0.05 m Apia, Upolu Island | — | — |
 New Zealand | 1 | 0.05 m Chatham Island | — | — |
 Tuvalu | 1 | 0.05 m Funafuti | — | — |
| Marshall Islands, Rep. Of | 1 | 0.05 m Kwajalein, Marshall Islands | — | — |
| Naoero | 1 | 0.05 m Nauru | — | — |
 French Polynesia | 1 | 0.05 m Papeete, Tahiti | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 52Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baie Martelli, Pentecost Island | 6.60 m | 47 km | Vanuatu |
| Pentecost Island (Southeast) | 4.70 m | 55 km | Vanuatu |
| Ambrym Island | 3.60 m | 34 km | Vanuatu |
| Pentecost Island (Southwest) | 3.40 m | 47 km | Vanuatu |
| Pentecost Island (West) | 3.40 m | 54 km | Vanuatu |
| Efate Island | 2.60 m | 130 km | Vanuatu |
| West of Port Vila, Efate Island | 2.40 m | 146 km | Vanuatu |
| Ambryn Island (West) | 2.20 m | 30 km | Vanuatu |
| Ambryn Island (Northwest) | 2.10 m | 35 km | Vanuatu |
| Tisman Bay, Malakula | 1.80 m | 60 km | Vanuatu |
| Efate Island (West) | 1.60 m | 131 km | Vanuatu |
| Pentecost Island (East) | 1.00 m | 65 km | Vanuatu |
| Suva, King's Wharf | 1.00 m | 1,102 km | Fiji |
| Port Vila, Efate Island | 0.20 m | 148 km | Vanuatu |
| Ayukawa · Miyagi | 0.17 m | 6,669 km | Japan |
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.