In a total of 6 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1865 a total of 11 people died 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. At this Tsunami on 09/29/2009 a total of 9 people have been killed.
The marked positions on the map represent the most effected regions within the past 160 years.
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 largest tsunamis in Tonga since 1865
Date
Cause
max wave height
Deaths
Total damage
09/29/2009
Earthquake in Samoa (Samoa Islands) with a magnitude of 8.1. The tsunami also reached American Samoa, Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, , United States. A total of 192 humans died.
22.35 m
9
04/30/1919
Earthquake in Tonga (Tonga Islands) with a magnitude of 8.1.
2.5 m
0
06/26/1917
Earthquake 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
Volcano in Tonga (Tofua)
0 m
2
05/10/1877
Earthquake 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
Earthquake in Tonga (Tonga Islands) with a magnitude of 8.0.
0 m
0
These statistics are based on datas from the National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): Global Historical Tsunami Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Several data have been summarized and translated.