Historical tsunamis · Sep 13, 1999
1999 Fatu Hiva tsunami
French Polynesia
The tsunami of Sep 13, 1999 originated near Fatu Hiva (French Polynesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Sep 13, 1999
- Cause
- Landslide
- Maximum documented water height
- 8.00 m
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 9
- Countries affected
- 1
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Landslide.
The highest documented water height was 8.00 m (N Dock At Pointe Matahumu, Omoa, French Polynesia).
9 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
9Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| French Polynesia | 9 | 8.00 m N Dock At Pointe Matahumu, Omoa | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
9 / 9Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| N Dock At Pointe Matahumu, Omoa · Fatu Hiva | 8.00 m | 2 km | French Polynesia |
| N Shore of Vaitopii River, Omoa · Fatu Hiva | 7.00 m | 2 km | French Polynesia |
| S of Omoa Bay, Omoa · Fatu Hiva | 7.00 m | 2 km | French Polynesia |
| Tahaoa Beach, Omoa · Fatu Hiva | 7.00 m | 2 km | French Polynesia |
| Ice-Making Plant, Omoa · Fatu Hiva | 5.00 m | 2 km | French Polynesia |
| Elementary School, Omoa · Fatu Hiva | 4.00 m | 2 km | French Polynesia |
| B/W School and Motutapu, Omoa · Fatu Hiva | 3.00 m | 2 km | French Polynesia |
| Vaitopii River Bridge, Omoa · Fatu Hiva | 3.00 m | 2 km | French Polynesia |
| Hanavave · Fatu Hiva | 1.90 m | 6 km | French Polynesia |
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.