NOAA / NCEI
Tsunamis in Tonga
12 confirmed tsunamis originating in Tonga. Highest documented wave: 22.0 m (Tonga Islands, 2022).
Map of observation sites
Tsunami source locations; colour and size show the highest documented water height. Click to open the event.
All documented events
12| Date | Location / station | Magnitude | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 2025, 12:18 PM UTC | Tonga | 7.0 | 0.05 m | — | 2 |
| Nov 11, 2022, 10:48 AM UTC | Tonga Islands | 7.3 | 0.12 m | — | 4 |
| Jan 15, 2022, 4:14 AM UTC | Tonga Islands | — | 22.0 m | 6 | 831 |
| Mar 19, 2009, 6:17 PM UTC | Tonga | 7.6 | 0.15 m | — | 27 |
| May 3, 2006, 3:26 PM UTC | Tonga | 8.0 | 0.27 m | — | 55 |
| Oct 14, 1997, 9:53 AM UTC | Tonga Islands | 7.7 | 0.10 m | — | 1 |
| Oct 6, 1987, 4:19 AM UTC | Tonga Islands | 7.3 | 0.25 m | — | 2 |
| Dec 19, 1982, 5:43 PM UTC | Kermadec Islands | 7.5 | 0.20 m | — | 4 |
| Jun 22, 1977, 12:08 PM UTC | Tonga Trench | 7.2 | 0.40 m | 1 | 19 |
| Sep 8, 1948, 3:09 PM UTC | Tonga Trench | 7.8 | 0.10 m | — | 7 |
| Apr 30, 1919, 7:17 AM UTC | Tonga Islands | 8.1 | 2.50 m | — | 9 |
| Nov 18, 1865 | Tonga Islands | 8.0 | 1.25 m | — | 4 |
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.