December 12, 1933 Earthquake: Papua New Guinea
An earthquake struck Papua New Guinea on December 12, 1933 at 14:11:18 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
- December 12, 1933
- Time
- 14:11:18 UTC
- Place
- Papua New Guinea
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 5.000° S, 151.000° E
- Country
- Papua New Guinea
- Region
- Central and South Pacific
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
December 12, 1933, 14:11.3 UTC, 5 S, 151 E, Near New Guinea. Felt at Rabaul, New Britain islands, East Indies. (reference #45)
A severe earthquake tremor was experienced in the township of Rabaul and the surrounding district at 12:15 a.m. today. Tanks burst, crockery was broken, and many landslides occurred, blocking the roadways. No persons were injured. A small tidal wave is reported to have occurred on the North Coast of New Guiena, the Gazelle Peninsula, and in New Britain. (reference #7535)
Sources NCEI cites
The publications NCEI lists for this record. The numbers match the “reference #” notes in its account above.
- #45 U.S. Department of the Interior, Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (1928-1986). United States Earthquakes, Annual publication, published 1928-1986. vol.s for 1928-1965 issued by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey; volumes for 1966-1969 issued by the National Earthquake Information Center; volume for 1970 issued by the National Geophysical Data Center; volumes for 1971-1972 issued by the National Geophysical And Solar-Terrestrial Data Center; volumes for 1973-1980 published jointly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Geological Survey; volumes for 1981-1986 published by the U.S. Geological Survey. [on shelf]
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 28, 1937, Keravia, Rabaul, Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
- December 22, 1983, Ulawun, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea
- January 13, 1941, Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea
- November 16, 2000, New Ireland, Duke of York, Papua New Guinea
- May 10, 1985, Bialla, Piona, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
- February 4, 1878, Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea
- December 30, 1990, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
- November 17, 1964, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
- November 17, 2000, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
- May 5, 2015, Papua New Guinea
- July 18, 2010, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
- March 29, 2018, Khatlon, Tajikistan
- December 28, 1945, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
- September 10, 1900, Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea
- December 12, 1934, Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea
More
Significant earthquakes of 1933The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1933Recent 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 2026-10-01. NCEI earthquake 9232.