Historical tsunamis · Dec 9, 2016, 7:10 PM UTC
2016 Solomon Islands tsunami
Solomon Islands
The tsunami of Dec 9, 2016, 7:10 PM UTC originated near Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands).
Key facts
- Date
- Dec 9, 2016, 7:10 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.9
- Depth
- 20 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.05 m
- Observation records
- 5
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake at a depth of 20 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.05 m (Lifou Island, New Caledonia).
5 observation sites in 3 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
5Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 New Caledonia | 2 | 0.05 m Lifou Island | — | — |
 Vanuatu | 1 | 0.03 m Port Vila, Efate Island | — | — |
 Papua New Guinea | 2 | 0.01 m D55012 Bpr, Coral Sea | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
5 / 5Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifou Island | 0.05 m | 1,303 km | New Caledonia |
| Hienghene | 0.04 m | 1,174 km | New Caledonia |
| Port Vila, Efate Island | 0.03 m | 1,095 km | Vanuatu |
| D55012 Bpr, Coral Sea | 0.01 m | 627 km | Papua New Guinea |
| D55023 Bpr, Etd Coral Sea | 0.01 m | 934 km | Papua New Guinea |
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.