May 1, 1917 Earthquake: Kermadec Islands
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Kermadec Islands on May 1, 1917 at 18:26 UTC. It caused a tsunami.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- May 1, 1917
- Time
- 18:26 UTC
- Place
- Kermadec Islands
- Magnitude
- 8 (Ms)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 29.200° S, 177.000° W
- Country
- Kermadec Islands
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Reference #79 lists May 1, 1917, 18:26 UTC, 29S, 177W, magnitude 8, shallow depth.
Reference #415 lists May 1, 1917, 18:26.5 UTC, 29S, 177W, magnitude 8.
Reference #236 lists May 1, 1917, 18:27 UTC, 29.2S, 177W, magnitude 8.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- June 18, 1993, Kermadec Islands
- January 14, 1976, Kermadec Islands
- January 29, 2022, Kermadec Islands, New Zealand
- November 16, 1917, S of, Kermadec Islands
- March 4, 2021, Sse of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands
- July 6, 2011, Kermadec Islands, New Zealand
- October 21, 2011, Kermadec Islands
- September 14, 1959, Kermadec Islands
- January 14, 1976, Kermadec Islands
- September 14, 1943, S of, Kermadec Islands
- March 4, 2021, S Of, Raoul, Kermadec Islands, New Zealand
- June 23, 2014, Sse of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, New Zealand
- April 24, 2023, S of, Kermadec Islands
- March 16, 2023, Kermadec Islands
- October 20, 1986, Raoul, Kermadec Islands
More
Significant earthquakes of 1917The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1917Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 3081.