Historical tsunamis · Dec 8, 2016, 5:38 PM UTC
2016 Solomon Islands tsunami
Solomon Islands
The tsunami of Dec 8, 2016, 5:38 PM UTC originated near Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands).
Key facts
- Date
- Dec 8, 2016, 5:38 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.8
- Depth
- 40 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.43 m
- Deaths
- 1
- Houses destroyed
- 191
- Damage
- limited (under US$ 1 million)
- Observation records
- 13
- Countries affected
- 4
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake at a depth of 40 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.43 m (Hienghene, New Caledonia).
13 observation sites in 4 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Litzlitz, Malekula Island (Vanuatu) after 1:49 h.
The database records 1 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 191.
Damage is estimated at limited (under US$ 1 million).
Map of observation sites
13Each 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) · Dec 8, 2016, 5:38 PM UTC
- 0:48 hSolomon Islands · Lata Wharf, Nendo Is, Santa Cruz Is · 0.08 m
- 1:49 hVanuatu · Litzlitz, Malekula Island · 0.25 m
3 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 New Caledonia | 5 | 0.43 m Hienghene | — | — |
 Vanuatu | 4 | 0.25 m Litzlitz, Malekula Island | — | 1:49 h |
| Solomon Islands | 3 | 0.12 m Honiara, Guadalcanal | — | 0:48 h |
 Papua New Guinea | 1 | 0.03 m D55012 Bpr, Coral Sea | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
13 / 13Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hienghene | 0.43 m | 1,174 km | New Caledonia |
| Litzlitz, Malekula Island | 0.25 m | 894 km | Vanuatu |
| Port Vila, Efate Island | 0.19 m | 1,086 km | Vanuatu |
| Luganville | 0.18 m | 831 km | Vanuatu |
| Ouinne | 0.14 m | 1,375 km | New Caledonia |
| Honiara, Guadalcanal | 0.12 m | 204 km | Solomon Islands |
| Lenakel, Tanna | 0.11 m | 1,298 km | Vanuatu |
| Lifou Island | 0.10 m | 1,300 km | New Caledonia |
| Lata Wharf, Nendo Is, Santa Cruz Is | 0.08 m | 490 km | Solomon Islands |
| Thio | 0.07 m | 1,319 km | New Caledonia |
| D55012 Bpr, Coral Sea | 0.03 m | 644 km | Papua New Guinea |
| Uitoe, Noumea | 0.01 m | 1,384 km | New Caledonia |
| Makira Island (San Cristobal) | — | 26 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.