Historic Earthquakes
Magnitude 7.0 Near North Coast of New Guinea, P.N.G.
1998 July 17 08:49:13 UTC
- Location Map
- Historical Seismicity
- Theoretical P-Wave Travel Times
- Seismic Hazard Map
- Moment Tensor Solution
- Energy and Broadband Solution
- The Papua, New Guinea Tsunami of 1998 July 17
At least 2,183 people killed, thousands injured, about 9,500 homeless and about 500 missing as a result of a tsunami generated in the Sissano area. Maximum wave heights estimated at 15 meters. Several villages were completely destroyed and others extensively damaged. Maximum recorded wave heights from selected tide stations (peak-to-trough, in cm) were as follows: 40 on Miyake-jima; 30 at Tosa-Shimuzu, Shikoku; 26 at Muroto, Shikoku; 24 at Naze, Amami O-shima; 20 on Tanega-shima; 20 at Kushimoto, Honshu; 6 at Jackson Bay and 4.7 at Kaikoura, New Zealand; 5 on Yap. Felt along much of the northern Papua New Guinea coast.
