National Tsunami Warning Center, NOAA/NWS

Torres Islands, Vanuatu Tsunami of 07 October, 2009

Two earthquakes occurred on October 7 2009 near the Vanuatu Islands in the southwest Pacific. The first earthquake, magnitude 7.7 at 2203UTC, was located at 13.05S, 166.19E and the second earthquake, magnitude 7.8 at 2218UTC, was located at 12.55S, 166.31E (USGS parameters). Both events triggered a tsunami. Due to the close origin time and location of the sources, it is not possible to determine the amplitude generated by each source. Only one arrival time and maximum amplitude is listed in the table below. The computed travel time is provided for the first event.

This earthquake produced a tsunami that was recorded at tide gages monitored at the Tsunami Warning Centers. Many observatories provide data to the centers; such as the NOAA National Ocean Service, the U. of Hawaii Sea Level Center, the Chilean Navy, and the National Tidal Facility in Australia among others. Click on the site name to see a graph of the tsunami, when available. Listed wave heights are maximum amplitude in cm (above sea level). Observed Arrival time is the actual tsunami arrival time in UTC on gages where it could be determined. The Computed Arrival time is the estimated time of arrival computed at the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) based on the origin time and location. The Sample Interval column shows the time between samples.

For additional information about this tsunami event see the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center's homepage .