What the record shows for Samoa
The strongest earthquake on record near Samoa is a magnitude 8.1 in 2009, centred 2009 Samoa Earthquake - 17 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 1,935 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Samoa - roughly 97 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 16 tsunamis within 300 km of Samoa between 1866 and 2009. The most significant was in 2009 near Samoa Islands, triggered by an M8.1 earthquake, which killed around 192 people.
11 volcanoes are catalogued near Samoa, including Upolu, Savaii, Tutuila, West Mata, Malumalu, Ofu-Olosega and 5 more. 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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Samoa lies near the northern end of the highly active Tonga–Kermadec subduction zone.
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 Samoa.
Earthquake risk in Samoa - FAQ
Is Samoa at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 97 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M8.1 in 2009.
What was the biggest earthquake in Samoa?
The strongest earthquake on record near Samoa is M8.1, in 2009 (2009 Samoa Earthquake), from USGS.
Does Samoa get tsunamis?
Yes - 16 tsunamis since 1866 (most recently 2009) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 192 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Samoa?
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.