What the record shows for French Polynesia
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 3 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 555 km of French Polynesia - about one every 5 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 1 tsunami within 555 km of French Polynesia (most recently 1848). The most significant was in 1848 near Tahiti.
4 volcanoes are catalogued near French Polynesia, including Teahitia, Rocard, Moua Pihaa, Mehetia. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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French Polynesia sits on stable Pacific seafloor away from plate boundaries, so local quakes are rare but distant Pacific events bring tsunami watches.
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 French Polynesia.
Earthquake risk in French Polynesia - FAQ
Is French Polynesia at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 5 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 555 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data.
What was the biggest earthquake in French Polynesia?
We don't have a standout large earthquake on record close to French Polynesia in the modern catalog, though smaller quakes can still occur.
Does French Polynesia get tsunamis?
Yes - 1 tsunami since 1848 (most recently 1848) within 555 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in French Polynesia?
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.