Historical tsunamis · Dec 17, 2016, 10:51 AM UTC
2016 Solomon Sea tsunami
Papua New Guinea
The tsunami of Dec 17, 2016, 10:51 AM UTC originated near Solomon Sea (Papua New Guinea).
Key facts
- Date
- Dec 17, 2016, 10:51 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.9
- Depth
- 95 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.08 m
- Observation records
- 5
- Countries affected
- 3
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake at a depth of 95 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.08 m (Tarekukure, Taro Island, Solomon Islands).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Solomon Islands | 1 | 0.08 m Tarekukure, Taro Island | — | — |
 New Caledonia | 3 | 0.04 m Hienghene | — | — |
| Papua New Guinea | 1 | 0.01 m D55023 Bpr, Etd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarekukure, Taro Island | 0.08 m | 401 km | Solomon Islands |
| Hienghene | 0.04 m | 2,176 km | New Caledonia |
| Ouinne | 0.04 m | 2,399 km | New Caledonia |
| D55023 Bpr, Etd Coral Sea | 0.01 m | 1,139 km | Papua New Guinea |
| Uitoe, Noumea | 0.01 m | 2,394 km | New Caledonia |
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.