The tsunamis which followed the great Indonesian earthquake in 2004 highlighted the threat of tsunamis to Australia. The risk of tsunami damage to Australia is small but cannot be ignored. Observed tsunamis reaching the mainland of Australia have been small, but historically large waves have reached the coast.
The table below lists observed tsunamis in Australia.
Date |
Description |
1877 |
Earthquake in Chile. Tsunami reached east coast o Australia. |
1883 |
Eruption of Krakatoa volcano, in Indonesia. Tsunami reached northwest coast of Australia. |
1960 |
Earthquake in Chile. Tsunami reached the east coast of Australia. |
1977 |
Earthquake in Indonesia. Tsunami reached northwest coast of Australia. |
May 23 1989 |
Magnitude 8.2 earthquake near Macquarie Island. |
June 2 1994 |
Magnitude 7.2 earthquake south of Java, Indonesia. |
May 16 1995 |
Magnitude 7.7 earthquake in the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. Tsunami reached the coast of New South Wales. |
July 30 1995 |
Magnitude 7.3 earthquake near the coast of northern Chile. |
October 9 1995 |
Magnitude 7.4 earthquake near coast of Guerrero, Mexico. |
April 18 1997 |
Tsunami recorded at Norfolk Island. |
April 21 1997 |
Magnitude 7.9 earthquake in the Santa Cruz islands, Solomon Islands. |
March 25 1998 |
Magnitude 8.1 earthquake near the Balleny Islands near Antarctica. |
June 18 2000 |
Magnitude 7.8 earthquake in South Indian Ocean. |
December 26 2004 |
Great earthquake in Indonesia (magnitude 9.0). |