July 21, 1934 Tsunami: Solomon Islands
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake began at Solomon Islands on July 21, 1934 at 06:18:23 UTC. Its effects were recorded at 3 places.
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
- July 21, 1934, 06:18:23 UTC
- Source
- Solomon Islands
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 7.2, 35 km deep
- Runups recorded
- 3
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Probable tsunami
- Source location
- 11.139° S, 165.503° E
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.
Reference #414:
1934, July 21, 06:18:18 UTC. Validity 3. During a new strong earthquake on the New Hebrides Islands, another tsunami was generated and was observed on New Caledonia Island. Stronger, though at the same time briefer oscillations than on the 19th, occurred at Touho on the 21st between 20:00 and 21:00. Strong floods and ebbs were recorded in Thio Bay between 20:00 and 21:00. The oscillations recurred at intervals of about 15 minutes.
The rise of water each time reached the level of high high tides. In Magenta Bay, near Noumea on the south coast, on the 22nd during an ebb tide, the sea rose, and then retreated 3-4 m, only to rise again in the same way. These phenomena lasted about 45 minutes and recurred almost every 10 minutes, and the sea quickly retreated each time, right out to the ebb tide line. No special sounds or roar was noticed. The weather, as on July 19, was good. Gutenberg, Richter (1954): 21.VII; O6h18m18s; 11 S., 165.75 E.; M=7.3.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Touho Bay | New Caledonia | 1,068 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Thio Bay | New Caledonia | 1,160 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Magenta Bay, Noumea | New Caledonia | 1,236 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1934The 1900sTsunamis of Solomon IslandsThe 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 1674.