Historical tsunamis · Jan 31, 2023, 6:00 PM UTC
2023 East Epi Volcano tsunami
Vanuatu
The tsunami of Jan 31, 2023, 6:00 PM UTC originated near East Epi Volcano (Vanuatu).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 31, 2023, 6:00 PM UTC
- Cause
- Volcanic eruption
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.05 m
- Observation records
- 3
- Countries affected
- 2
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Volcanic eruption.
The highest documented water height was 0.05 m (Port Vila, Efate Island, Vanuatu).
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) · Jan 31, 2023, 6:00 PM UTC
- 0:48 hVanuatu · Luganville · 0.03 m
2 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanuatu | 2 | 0.05 m Port Vila, Efate Island | — | 0:48 h |
 New Caledonia | 1 | — | — | — |
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 | 0.05 m | 119 km | Vanuatu |
| Luganville | 0.03 m | 180 km | Vanuatu |
| Hienghene Classified as doubtful | — | 573 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.