Tsunamis in New Caledonia
A total of 12 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1875 have killed 25 people in New Caledonia. Compared to other countries, Tsunamis therefore occur rather rarely.The strongest tidal wave registered in New Caledonia so far reached a height of three meters. On 05/01/1942, no losses of human lifes have been registered by this tsunami.
The biggest impact in terms of lifes, injuries, destroyed homes and the economy had been a tsunami on 03/28/1875. A tidal wave of up to 2.5 meters killed 25 humans and destroyed vast areas.
Other natural hazards in New Caledonia:
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Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes or other seismic eruptions on ground of an oceans and can cause massive tidal waves, which run with enormous force on land, causing great devastation. Especially in regions with only few tsunamis, the damage is often drastic, as the population does not expect tsunamis and thus hardly takes any protective measures. Even relatively small flood waves can lead to high losses and financial damage.
The marked positions on the map represent the most affected regions within the past 150 years.
The marked positions on the map represent the most affected regions within the past 150 years.
The largest tsunamis in New Caledonia since 1875
| Date | Cause | Max. tidal wave | Fatalities | Total damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/15/2022 | Volcano in Tonga (Tonga Islands) The tsunami caused damages in 8 further countries. A total of 6 humans died. | 1.1 m | 0 | |
| 03/04/2021 | Earthquakes in New Zealand (S Of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands) with a magnitude of 8.1. | 1 m | 0 | |
| 12/05/2018 | Earthquakes in New Caledonia (Loyalty Islands) with a magnitude of 7.5. | 2 m | 0 | |
| 04/01/2007 | Earthquakes on the Solomon Islands (Solomon Islands) with a magnitude of 8.1. The tsunami also reached Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea. A total of 50 humans died. | 2 m | 0 | |
| 03/12/1997 | Eruption in New Caledonia (New Caledonia) | 2 m | 0 | |
| 11/04/1952 | Earthquakes in Russia (Kamchatka) with a magnitude of 9.0. The tsunami caused damages in 11 further countries. A total of 10,000 humans died. | 1 m | 0 | |
| 12/02/1950 | Earthquakes in Vanuatu (Vanuatu Islands) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 2.5 m | 0 | |
| 05/01/1942 | Eruption in New Caledonia (New Caledonia) | 3 m | 0 | |
| 01/01/1936 | Eruption in New Caledonia (New Caledonia) | 2.2 m | 0 | |
| 10/03/1931 | Earthquakes on the Solomon Islands (San Cristobal Island) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 1.3 m | 0 | |
| 09/20/1920 | Earthquakes in Vanuatu (Vanuatu Islands) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 0 m | 0 | |
| 03/28/1875 | Earthquakes in New Caledonia (Lifou Island, Loyalty Islands) with a magnitude of 8.0. | 2.5 m | 25 |
These evaluations are based on data from the Global Historical Tsunami Database of the National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA, and World Data Service (NGDC/WDS), doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Individual data have been summarized or translated.
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