March 19, 1905 Tsunami: Malo Pass, Vanuatu
A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at Malo Pass, Vanuatu on March 19, 1905. The water rose as high as 0.6 meters. Its effects were recorded at 1 place.
Where the waves reached
The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.
- Under 1 m
- 1 to 3 m
- 3 to 10 m
- 10 to 30 m
- 30 m and more
- Height not recorded
The tsunami
- Date
- March 19, 1905
- Source
- Malo Pass, Vanuatu
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- The earthquake
- Maximum water height
- 0.6 m (2.0 ft)
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this tsunami.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
A shock of earthquake, succeeded by a 2 ft tidal wave, was experienced at Malo Pass, New Hebrides, about the end of March. The auxiliary schooner Lola (former Dr. Scot Skirving's private yacht), which had been stranded on a sandbank in Malo Pass for some weeks, was lifted into deep water by the tidal wave, and resumed her voyage Vila-wards. (reference #7395)
The yacht Lolo, former Dr. Scot Skirving's private yacht, which went ashore in Malo Pass, was safely refloated on March 19, without damage, and Mr. Raymond is now continuing his cruise around the group in her. (reference #7396)
Every runup
Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malo Pass | Vanuatu | 0.6 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1905The 1900sTsunamis of VanuatuThe earthquakeThis day in weather historyAlerts in force
Sources
Tsunami events and runups 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 tsunami event 4844.