Historical tsunamis · Jan 20, 2003, 8:43 AM UTC
2003 Solomon Islands tsunami
Solomon Islands
The tsunami of Jan 20, 2003, 8:43 AM UTC originated near Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 20, 2003, 8:43 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.3
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 2.00 m
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake at a depth of 33 km.
The highest documented water height was 2.00 m (Makira Island (San Cristobal), Solomon Islands).
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
2Each 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) · Jan 20, 2003, 8:43 AM UTC
- 1:00 hSolomon Islands · Honiara, Guadalcanal · 0.03 m
1 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solomon Islands | 2 | 2.00 m Makira Island (San Cristobal) | — | 1:00 h |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makira Island (San Cristobal) | 2.00 m | 81 km | Solomon Islands |
| Honiara, Guadalcanal | 0.03 m | 148 km | Solomon Islands |
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.