What the record shows for New Caledonia
The strongest earthquake on record near New Caledonia is a magnitude 7.3 in 2010, centred 141 km W of Isangel, Vanuatu - 16 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 690 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 333 km of New Caledonia - roughly 35 a year. 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 9 tsunamis within 333 km of New Caledonia between 1936 and 2017. The most significant was in 2010 near Vanuatu Islands, triggered by an M7.3 earthquake.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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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.
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.