December 18, 1963 Tsunami: Tonga Trench
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake began at Tonga Trench on December 18, 1963 at 00:30:00 UTC. 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
- December 18, 1963, 00:30:00 UTC
- Source
- Tonga Trench
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 7.2, 46 km deep
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 0.5
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
- Source location
- 24.800° S, 176.600° W
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.
December 18, 1963. An earthquake occurred with its epicentre
near the Tonga Islands. It was felt on the islands of Tonga, Fiji and Kermadec. There was a very strong swell in the Tahiti Islands. (USCGS): Oh30m03s; 24.8 S., 176.6 W.; 46 km; M=7.25-7.5. (reference #415)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahiti | French Polynesia | 2,916 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1963The 1900sTsunamis of TongaThe 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 1950.