November 16, 2000 Tsunami: Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake began at Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea on November 16, 2000 at 04:54:55 UTC. The water rose as high as 3 meters. Its effects were recorded at 10 places in at least 3 countries. It killed 2 people, counting the earthquake or eruption that caused it.
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
- November 16, 2000, 04:54:55 UTC
- Source
- Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 8, 17 km deep
- Maximum water height
- 3 m (9.8 ft)
- Runups recorded
- 10
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Definite tsunami
- Source location
- 4.001° S, 152.327° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 2 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses destroyed
- Many (101 to 1,000) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
On November 16, 17 and 18, a series of very large earthquakes occurred in the area around New Ireland and New Britain of Papua New Guinea. Given the large size of the two earthquakes occurring on November 16, it has been difficult to determine which seismic event caused what runup, as flooding and tsunami waves have been reported as inundating several coastlines. These include, unconfirmed reports of runup on the islands of Bougainville (Torokina reporting 2.5 to 3 m. runup) and Buka. In addition, it was reported a tsunami reaching Trobriand Islands (SW Solomon Sea) measured .3-1 meter. According to Rabaul Volcano Observatory (e-mail correspondence, Dec. 1, 2000) initial indications were that only the first large earthquake (4:55 UTC) caused a tsunami. But after reference to tide gauge records, it appeared most likely that it was the second earthquake (7:42 UTC) that created a tsunami. The inundation of a hardware store in Rabaul, occurring 20-30 minutes following the first earthquake, was most likely caused by a seiche. Runup of .9 meter was reported in
Rabaul. Because it was dark by the time the aftershock occurred it was difficult to verify when some coastlines were inundated. Follow-up confirmation reports and tide gage records have yet to be received. (reference #9795)
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake (04:54 UT) New Ireland, Papua New Guinea generated a damaging local tsunami at Kokopo and Rabaul, New Britain. The inundation of a hardware store in Rabaul that occurred 20-30 minutes following the first earthquake was most likely caused by a seiche. A runup of 0.9 m was reported in Rabaul. Tsunami damage was also observed along the southwestern coast of New Ireland, the west coast of Bougainville and on Buka. It was not certain whether the tsunami was the result of this earthquake or the aftershock that occurred a few hours later. (reference #1315)
Extensive damage from the earthquake and tsunami on Duke of York, New Britain and New Ireland. Numerous landslides occurred in southern New Ireland. Tsunami damage also observed along the west coast of Bougainville and on Buka. Also felt on Lihir Island. As much as 2-3 meters of
subsidence occurred over several hundred meters at the
mouth of the Kamdaru River, New Ireland and seiches up
to 1 meter high were observed in water tanks and
swimming pools at Rabaul, New Britain. Estimated wave
heights (in meters) were as follows: 3 on Bougainville
and Buka; 3 along the southwestern coast of New
Ireland; 1 at Kokopo and Rabaul; 1 in the Trobriand
Islands; 1 at Gizo and Noro, Solomon Islands. (reference #1053)
2000, November 16, 04:54:55.87 UTC. 4.001 South, 152.327 East, depth 16.8 km, 8.0 Mw HRV. (reference #9910)
2000, November 16, 04:54:59.27, 4.011 South, 152.254 East, depth 30 km, 8.0 Mw.
(reference #10476)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke of York Islands | Papua New Guinea | 23 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Rabaul, New Britain | Papua New Guinea | 29 | 1 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Kokopo, New Britain | Papua New Guinea | 39 | 1 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| New Ireland | Papua New Guinea | 83 | 3 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Buka Island | Papua New Guinea | 290 | 3 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Torokina, Bougainville Island | Papua New Guinea | 390 | 3 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Trobriand Islands (Kiriwina Is) | Papua New Guinea | 539 | 1 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Gizo Island | Solomon Islands | 669 | 1 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Noro | Solomon Islands | 715 | 1 | Eyewitness observation of water height | |||
| Port Vila, Efate Island | Vanuatu | 2,313 | 0.06 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) |
More
Every tsunami in 2000The 2000sTsunamis of Papua New GuineaThe 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 2352.