Tsunamis in Wallis and Futuna
A total of 2 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1993 have killed 0 people in Wallis and Futuna. Tsunamis therefore occur only rarely here.The strongest tidal wave registered in Wallis and Futuna so far reached a height of 4.5 meters. On 09/29/2009, 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 03/12/1993.
Other natural hazards in Wallis and Futuna:
› Cyclones
› The most severe tsunamis in the world
Back to overview: Wallis and Futuna
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 40 years.
The marked positions on the map represent the most affected regions within the past 40 years.
The largest tsunamis in Wallis and Futuna since 1993
Date | Cause | Max. tidal wave | Fatalities | Total damage |
---|---|---|---|---|
09/29/2009 | Earthquakes in Samoa (Samoa Islands) with a magnitude of 8.1. The tsunami also reached American Samoa, Samoa, Outlying Islands, Tonga, United States. A total of 192 humans died. | 4.5 m | 0 | |
03/12/1993 | Earthquakes in Wallis and Futuna (Futuna) with a magnitude of 6.4. | 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.