Large M7.7 Loyalty Islands quake triggers small tsunami

A large shallow magnitude 7.7 occurred in the Loyalty Islands at 2:57pm NZT on Friday afternoon which triggered small tsunami waves across the South Pacific. Locally, Great Barrier Island recorded its highest at peak-to-peak change of 57cm at 6:30pm, making it a small 28cm wave.

Great Barrier Island tide gauge showing the small tsunami waves arriving on 19 May 2023

The earthquake is very near the location of another M7.7 on 11th February 2021 which delivered a 60cm tsunami on Great Barrier Island on that occasion. The 2021 earthquake tsunami arrived 25 minutes faster than yesterday's wave.

Location of the M7.7 earthquake and the 2021 M7.7 earthquake location