Preliminary Findings of the Geological 

Preliminary Findings of the Geological 

Evidence and Oral History of Tsunamis in 

Evidence and Oral History of Tsunamis in 

Vanuatu

Vanuatu

James R. Goff

James R. Goff

Australian Tsunami Research Centre, UNSW, AUSTRALIA

Australian Tsunami Research Centre, UNSW, AUSTRALIA

former  NIWA, NEW ZEALAND

former  NIWA, NEW ZEALAND

Douglas Charley

Douglas Charley

Christy Haruel

Christy Haruel

Department of Geology, Mines and Rural Water Supply

Department of Geology, Mines and Rural Water Supply

VANUATU

VANUATU

Michael Bonte

Michael Bonte

-

-

Grapentin

Grapentin

SOPAC

SOPAC

Introduction

Introduction

Science and Technical 

Science and Technical 

Working Group 

Working Group 

Meeting, Tonga 2007

Meeting, Tonga 2007

–

–

“

“

Dearth of Knowledge

Dearth of Knowledge

”

”

and 

and 

“

“

almost complete 

almost complete 

lack of paleotsunami 

lack of paleotsunami 

research

research

”

”

Vanuatu National 

Vanuatu National 

Action Plan for DRM

Action Plan for DRM

–

–

compile event data and 

compile event data and 

document traditional 

document traditional 

knowledge

knowledge

Proposed Kuwae 
caldera

Survey Sites

Survey Sites

Kuwae caldera 

Kuwae caldera 

(Tongoa & SE

(Tongoa & SE

-

-

Epi)

Epi)

Efate

Efate

Cape 

Kapioka

Lake Nalima & western 
boulder bank

Lake Teregea & eastern 
boulder bank

Kuwae Ignimbrite

Kuwae Ignimbrite

Location of trenches

Former village 

location 

Conclusions

Conclusions

Evidence for past (large) tsunamis can be found around 

Evidence for past (large) tsunamis can be found around 

the coast of Vanuatu.

the coast of Vanuatu.

Most of the sites investigated during this study likely show 

Most of the sites investigated during this study likely show 

evidence of at least one past tsunami event and some of 

evidence of at least one past tsunami event and some of 

the sites show evidence of more than one. 

the sites show evidence of more than one. 

Sites close to the Kuwae caldera as on. Epi and Tongoa 

Sites close to the Kuwae caldera as on. Epi and Tongoa 

seem likely to have no evidence for events prior the 

seem likely to have no evidence for events prior the 

Kuwae caldera eruption in 1452 AD, because it was so 

Kuwae caldera eruption in 1452 AD, because it was so 

large as to destroy earlier records.

large as to destroy earlier records.

So far no evidence was found on Efate of tsunami 

So far no evidence was found on Efate of tsunami 

deposits from the Kuwae caldera eruption in 1452 AD

deposits from the Kuwae caldera eruption in 1452 AD

Thank yu tu mas

Thank yu tu mas