Tsunamis in Tonga
A total of 7 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1865 have killed 14 people in Tonga. Compared to other countries, Tsunamis therefore occur rather rarely.The strongest tidal wave registered in Tonga so far reached a height of 22.35 meters. On 09/29/2009, this tsunami killed a total of 9 people.
Other natural hazards in Tonga:
› Volcanos
› Earthquakes
› Cyclones
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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 160 years.
The marked positions on the map represent the most affected regions within the past 160 years.
The largest tsunamis in Tonga since 1865
| 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. | 22 m | 3 | |
| 09/29/2009 | Earthquakes in Samoa (Samoa Islands) with a magnitude of 8.1. The tsunami also reached American Samoa, Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Outlying Islands, United States. A total of 192 humans died. | 22.35 m | 9 | |
| 04/30/1919 | Earthquakes in Tonga (Tonga Islands) with a magnitude of 8.1. | 2.5 m | 0 | |
| 06/26/1917 | Earthquakes in Samoa (Samoa Islands) with a magnitude of 8.3. The tsunami also reached Samoa, American Samoa. A total of 2 humans died. | 4.2 m | 0 | |
| 08/30/1892 | Earthquakes in the United States (California: Los Angeles) with a magnitude of 4.2. | 0 m | 2 | |
| 05/10/1877 | Earthquakes in Chile (Northern Chile) with a magnitude of 8.3. The tsunami caused damages in 7 further countries. A total of 2,282 humans died. | 3.6 m | 0 | |
| 11/18/1865 | Earthquakes in Tonga (Tonga Islands) with a magnitude of 8.0. | 0 m | 0 |
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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