April 18, 1997 Tsunami: Norfolk Island, Australia
A tsunami of unknown cause began at Norfolk Island, Australia on April 18, 1997. 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
- April 18, 1997
- Source
- Norfolk Island, Australia
- Cause
- Unknown
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Very doubtful 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 magnitude 4.7 Ms (USGS) earthquake at 15:05 UT, 21.818 S, 177.982 W, 361 km depth, in the Fiji Islands was suggested as the source of a tsunami recorded at Norfolk Islands at 16:30 UT. It is too small, too far away, and not reported from other locations to be a likely source. (reference #1315)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk Island | Australia | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | day 18, 16:30 |
More
Every tsunami in 1997The 1900sTsunamis of AustraliaThis 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 3032.