December 26, 1975 Earthquake: Samoa Islands

Name: December 26, 1975 Earthquake: Samoa Islands
Start: 1975-12-26
Location: Samoa Islands

December 26, 1975 · M7.8

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Samoa Islands on December 26, 1975 at 15:56:38 UTC, 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: December 26, 1975
Time: 15:56:38 UTC
Place: Samoa Islands
Magnitude: 7.8 (Ms)
Focal depth: 33 km (21 mi)
Intensity: 5 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami: Yes: the tsunami it caused
Epicenter: 16.265° S, 172.467° W
Country: Samoa

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.

Felt (V) at Apia. (reference #1053)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1975 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1975 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 4705.