2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami
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| Date | 29 September 2009 |
|---|---|
| Origin time | 17:48:10 UTC |
| Magnitude | 8.1 Mw |
| Depth | 15 km (9.3 mi) |
| Epicenter | 15°32′S 171°52′W / 15.53°S 171.87°WCoordinates: 15°32′S 171°52′W / 15.53°S 171.87°W |
| Type | Dip-slip |
| Areas affected |
Samoa American Samoa Tonga Cook Islands Fiji French Polynesia New Zealand |
| Max. intensity | VI (Strong) |
| Tsunami | Yes |
| Casualties | at least 189 fatalities hundreds injured |
The 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami took place on 29 September in the southern Pacific Ocean adjacent to the Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone. The submarine earthquake occurred in an extensional environment and had a moment magnitude of 8.1 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). It was the largest earthquake of 2009.
A tsunami was generated which caused substantial damage and loss of life in Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center recorded a 3-inch (76 mm) rise in sea levels near the epicenter, and New Zealand scientists determined that the waves measured 14 metres (46 ft) at their highest on the Samoan coast. The quake occurred on the outer rise of the Kermadec-Tonga subduction zone. This is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates in the Earth's lithosphere meet and earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.
Countries affected by the tsunami in the areas that were hit are American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga (Niuatoputapu) where more than 189 people were killed, especially children, most of them in Samoa. Large waves with no major damage were reported on the coasts of Fiji, the northern coast of New Zealand and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. People took precautions in the low-lying atolls of Tokelau and moved to higher ground. Niue was reported as reasonably safe because it is high. There were no reports of high waves from Vanuatu, Kiribati, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands.
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