What the record shows for Cook Islands
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 0 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 389 km of Cook Islands - about one every Infinity years. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 2 tsunamis within 389 km of Cook Islands between 1909 and 2010. The most significant was in 1909 near Rarotonga.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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The Cook Islands lie on old, stable Pacific seafloor, so local earthquakes are uncommon and the main hazard is a distant-source tsunami.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Cook Islands.
Earthquake risk in Cook Islands - FAQ
Is Cook Islands at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every infinity years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 389 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in Cook Islands?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to Cook Islands in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does Cook Islands get tsunamis?
Yes - 2 tsunamis since 1909 (most recently 2010) within 389 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Cook Islands?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.