Historical tsunamis · May 20, 2023, 1:51 AM UTC
2023 Loyalty Islands tsunami
New Caledonia
The tsunami of May 20, 2023, 1:51 AM UTC originated near Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia).
Key facts
- Date
- May 20, 2023, 1:51 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.1
- Depth
- 36 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.14 m
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake at a depth of 36 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.14 m (Ouinne, New Caledonia).
4 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Map of observation sites
4Each 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 | 4 | 0.14 m Ouinne | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
4 / 4Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouinne | 0.14 m | 406 km | New Caledonia |
| Mare Island | 0.12 m | 314 km | New Caledonia |
| Lifou Island | 0.11 m | 405 km | New Caledonia |
| Thio | 0.03 m | 463 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.