Historical tsunamis · Mar 9, 2012, 7:09 AM UTC
2012 Off East Coast of Vanuatu tsunami
Vanuatu
The tsunami of Mar 9, 2012, 7:09 AM UTC originated near Off East Coast of Vanuatu (Vanuatu).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 9, 2012, 7:09 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M6.7
- Depth
- 16 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.05 m
- Observation records
- 3
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake at a depth of 16 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.05 m (Ouinne, New Caledonia).
3 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
3Each 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) · Mar 9, 2012, 7:09 AM UTC
- 0:48 hVanuatu · Port Vila, Efate Island · 0.08 m
1 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanuatu | 2 | 0.08 m Port Vila, Efate Island | — | 0:48 h |
 New Caledonia | 1 | 0.05 m Ouinne | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
3 / 3Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Vila, Efate Island | 0.08 m | 205 km | Vanuatu |
| Ouinne | 0.05 m | 440 km | New Caledonia |
| Aniwa Island | — | 14 km | Vanuatu |
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.