March 30, 1875 Tsunami: Vanuatu Islands

Reference #13893:

A huge seismic crisis felt in both the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia and the southern Vanuatu Islands began 28 March in the southern portion of the VSZ. Major shocks occurred 28 and 30 March and were followed by a “tidal wave”, as reported by Soloviev and Go (1974) and Louat and Baldassari (1989)

On both islands a tidal wave from the second, 30 March event was higher than the 28 March one. At Erromango, Robertson (1892) indicated that he saw “a prodigious wall of sea, stretching right across the bay, and which appeared about forty feet high” (~12 m). However, considering the described damage, this value is considered to be an overestimation herein.

Reference #13894:

The earthquake and the tidal wave were severely felt on Aniwa and Eromanga, as well as on Aneityum. There were also at both islands a severe earthquake and a high tidal wave, higher than the first wave, two nights afterwards, on the 30th of March. The Robertsons and their natives on Eromanga fled to the hills, but no lives were lost. But the place where the tidal wave was most severely felt was at Lifu, on the Loyalty Islands. Three villages were swept away, and from twenty to thirty people were drowned. But the forces of nature were still in a state of activity. [Note: Impacts to Lifu, Loyalty Isl, attributed to 28 March event]

Reference #13895:

I reached our house and had just got the key, when I heard a great angry roar. On opening the door of the room, to my horror I saw a prodigious wall of sea, stretching right across the bay, and which appeared about forty feet high, come rolling in. That instant I heard Watata calling : " Misi, the sea, the sea is coming! Never mind the boat. Escape with your wife and child for your lives ! " I sprang into the bedroom, caught up the child and wrapped her in a blanket, and, with Mrs. Robertson, rushed out at the backdoor. The native girls were standing terror-stricken just outside, and I told them to follow us. I called to Watata to chain the boat to a tree. Fortunately he heard me and did so, and then, with the Erromangans, made for the high ground at the back of our cow-shed. On his way he called to an old woman named Lalim , the mother of Navusia, Yomot's wife, who was living near us , to run for her life. But she refused to leave her charms and sacred stones ; and climbing on a pile of stones near her house she held on like grim death to them and to her heathen baubles. She escaped, but only by about five feet. We ran straight to the hill at the back of our house. As we began the ascent, it seemed, from its dreadful roar, as if the sea was right upon us. It had then reached the stone fence in front of our house. We bounded from rock to rock and rushed through the reeds and scrub, till Mrs. Robertson, getting entangled in them, fell. I called back to her to run. [Note: damage descriptions included in reference]