Historical tsunamis · Jan 3, 2010, 10:36 PM UTC
2010 Solomon Islands tsunami
Solomon Islands
The tsunami of Jan 3, 2010, 10:36 PM UTC originated near Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 3, 2010, 10:36 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.1
- Depth
- 25 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 7.52 m
- Houses destroyed
- 16
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 51
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake at a depth of 25 km.
The highest documented water height was 7.52 m (Retavo, Rendova Island, Solomon Islands).
51 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Luganville (Vanuatu) after 2:14 h.
Houses destroyed: 16.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
51Each 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, 2010, 10:36 PM UTC
- 0:53 hSolomon Islands · Honiara, Guadalcanal · 0.07 m
- 2:14 hVanuatu · Luganville · 0.05 m
- 4:43 hAustralia · Cape Ferguson · 0.01 m
4 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solomon Islands | 48 | 7.52 m Retavo, Rendova Island | — | 0:53 h |
 Australia | 2 | 0.08 m Rosslyn Bay | — | 4:43 h |
 Vanuatu | 1 | 0.05 m Luganville | — | 2:14 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 51Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 7.52 m | 19 km | Solomon Islands |
| Endotori Pt, Rendova Island | 7.13 m | 17 km | Solomon Islands |
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 7.01 m | 19 km | Solomon Islands |
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 6.90 m | 19 km | Solomon Islands |
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 6.82 m | 19 km | Solomon Islands |
| Ndoro Pt, Rendova Island | 6.64 m | 10 km | Solomon Islands |
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 6.60 m | 19 km | Solomon Islands |
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 6.51 m | 19 km | Solomon Islands |
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 6.10 m | 19 km | Solomon Islands |
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 5.92 m | 19 km | Solomon Islands |
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 5.90 m | 19 km | Solomon Islands |
| Mbaniata, Rendova Island | 5.84 m | 20 km | Solomon Islands |
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 5.82 m | 19 km | Solomon Islands |
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 5.62 m | 19 km | Solomon Islands |
| Retavo, Rendova Island | 5.60 m | 19 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.