November 6, 1937 Earthquake: Fakfak, New Guinea, Indonesia

Name: November 6, 1937 Earthquake: Fakfak, New Guinea, Indonesia
Start: 1937-11-06
Location: Fakfak, New Guinea, Indonesia

November 6, 1937

An earthquake struck Fakfak, New Guinea, Indonesia on November 6, 1937, 33 km below the surface. 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: November 6, 1937
Place: Fakfak, New Guinea, Indonesia
Focal depth: 33 km (21 mi)
Tsunami: Yes: the tsunami it caused
Epicenter: 3.000° S, 132.300° E
Country: Indonesia

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.

November 6, 1937, 18:30 [local time]. At Fakfak (New Guinea), there was a weak seaquake, accompanied by a tidal wave 1/2 m high. (reference #414)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1937 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1937 Recent earthquakes near here This 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 6550.