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New Caledonia and the neighbouring Loyalty Islands sit beside the southern New Hebrides trench, which regularly produces magnitude 6 and 7 earthquakes offshore. This page pulls real records for New Caledonia: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. 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 New Caledonia.
Earthquake risk in New Caledonia - FAQ
Is New Caledonia at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 35 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 333 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.3 in 2010.
What was the biggest earthquake in New Caledonia?
The strongest earthquake on record near New Caledonia is M7.3, in 2010 (141 km W of Isangel, Vanuatu), from USGS.
Does New Caledonia get tsunamis?
Yes - 9 tsunamis since 1936 (most recently 2017) within 333 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in New Caledonia?
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.