Historical tsunamis · Jan 3, 2009, 7:43 PM UTC
2009 Near North Coast tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Jan 3, 2009, 7:43 PM UTC originated near Near North Coast (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 3, 2009, 7:43 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Depth
- 17 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.39 m
- Deaths
- 5
- Injuries
- 250
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 24
- Countries affected
- 11
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at a depth of 17 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.39 m (Manokwari, Indonesia).
24 observation sites in 11 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Malakal Island, Caroline Islands (Palau) after 1:27 h.
The database records 5 deaths.
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
24Each 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 3, 2009, 7:43 PM UTC
- 0:16 hIndonesia · Manokwari · 0.39 m
- 1:27 hPalau · Malakal Island, Caroline Islands · 0.04 m
- 1:47 hMicronesia, Fed. States Of · Yap Island, Caroline Islands · 0.04 m
- 3:28 hUSA Territory · Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands · 0.11 m
- 3:47 hJapan · Ishigakiko · 0.09 m
- 5:04 hMarshall Islands, Rep. Of · Kwajalein, Marshall Islands · 0.03 m
- 6:27 hKiribati · Betio, Tarawa · 0.02 m
- 6:59 hNaoero · Nauru
- 8:28 hRussia · Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan · 0.12 m
- 15:08 hUnited States · Arena Cove, Ca · 0.05 m
20 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 3 | 0.39 m Manokwari | — | 0:16 h |
 Japan | 7 | 0.25 m Uragami | — | 3:47 h |
 Russia | 1 | 0.12 m Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan | — | 8:28 h |
| USA Territory | 4 | 0.11 m Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands | — | 3:28 h |
 United States | 3 | 0.08 m Port San Luis, Ca | — | 15:08 h |
 Palau | 1 | 0.04 m Malakal Island, Caroline Islands | — | 1:27 h |
 Vanuatu | 1 | 0.04 m Port Vila, Efate Island | — | — |
| Micronesia, Fed. States Of | 1 | 0.04 m Yap Island, Caroline Islands | — | 1:47 h |
| Marshall Islands, Rep. Of | 1 | 0.03 m Kwajalein, Marshall Islands | — | 5:04 h |
 Kiribati | 1 | 0.02 m Betio, Tarawa | — | 6:27 h |
| Naoero | 1 | — | — | 6:59 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 24Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manokwari · West Papua | 0.39 m | 142 km | Indonesia |
| Uragami · Wakayama | 0.25 m | 3,773 km | Japan |
| Omaezaki · Shizuoka | 0.20 m | 3,917 km | Japan |
| Biak I., West Irian · Papua | 0.19 m | 367 km | Indonesia |
| Tosa-Shimizu · Kochi | 0.19 m | 3,674 km | Japan |
| Chichijima Island · Bonin Is, Tokyo | 0.18 m | 3,203 km | Japan |
| Malokuril'skaya Bay, Shikotan · Kuril Islands | 0.12 m | 5,097 km | Russia |
| Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands · Mp | 0.11 m | 2,235 km | USA Territory |
| Jayapura · Papua | 0.10 m | 901 km | Indonesia |
| Ishigakiko · Okinawa | 0.09 m | 2,895 km | Japan |
| Midway Islands · Hi | 0.09 m | 6,174 km | USA Territory |
| Naha · Okinawa | 0.09 m | 3,000 km | Japan |
| Hanasaki · Hokkaido | 0.08 m | 5,002 km | Japan |
| Port San Luis, Ca · Ca | 0.08 m | 11,523 km | United States |
| Arena Cove, Ca · Ca | 0.05 m | 11,199 km | United States |
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.