1936 Tsunami: New Caledonia

A witness (Daisy B.) recalls an event near Bwelic, north of the La Ouaieme River along the northeast coast of Grande-Terre in 1936 after March (cross-checked). The witness mentions that, on a fair-weathered day, in the morning, three successive waves, the third being the strongest, hit the coast. After the second wave, the sea largely receded exposing the land reef. A "terrific suction noise" was heard. The withdrawal between the second and the third wave is estimated to have reached one to a few meters in height. Then, the largest wave came and flooded the coast. Seaweed, sea worms and fish are washed up on shore. A bakery, several piers and boat sheds were damaged. The water level reached the base of the stairs of the living quarters of the residents. During an on-site visit on 6 August 2008 by one of the authors (j.C), the altitude reached by the sea was estimated to be 1.2 m above the highest lunar tides (a geodetic point on the small bridge on the Bwelic creek was used as a reference point for measurement; equivalent to + 2.2 m). At Tova, 1.5 km south of Bwelic in front of the Pouai Pass, the sea level also reached the bases of several house stairs on the shore. A value, more approximate than the one in Bwelic (since the local geodetic reference point was not found) of 2.2 m above the highest tides was estimated (equivalent + 3.2 m). At this location, the sea is currently 300m away. No link could be made between these time periods and any earthquake, but the phenomenon seems to be linked to a local quake and/or landslide. (reference #8975)