Acehtsunami

There is facts that the Australian coast may have experienced large tsunami during the past few thousand years. This evidence is revealed through deposits of shell, coral and boulders which are well on top of sea level and several kilometers inland…. Tsunami are recorded in Australia about once every two years but most are small and present little threat to coastal communities.

The tsunami threat to Australia varies from relatively low for most of the coastline to moderate on the north west coast of Western Australia. This area is more vulnerable because of its proximity to Indonesia and other countries in the area which are prone to major earthquake and volcanic activity.

Several major tsunami have hit Australia’s north west coast with the largest, at Cape Leveque in 1977, reportedly produce a six metre wave height

Further south in the Onslow-Exmouth region in June 1994, tsunami waves travelled inland to a point four metres over sea level and washed 300 metres inland after appearing out of a calm sea. Both tsunami were generated by earthquakes in Indonesia.

In May 1960, a scale 9.5 earthquake in Chile generated the largest tsunami recorded along the east coast of Australia. The event generated tsunami waves of just under one metre at the Fort Denison tide gauge in Sydney Harbour. Slight to reasonable damage was caused to boats in harbours at Lord Howe Island, Evans Head, Newcastle, Sydney and Eden.