Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Pacific Region
 

Tsunami 2011

A tsunami generated by a powerful earthquake off the coast of Japan struck Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge at 11:36 PM on Thursday, March 10th and continued for the next few hours.  Fortunately, Midway residents received approximately 4 hours of advanced warning and successfully implemented its tsunami emergency plan.  All essential infrastructure and equipment were secured and all staff, contractors, and visitors evacuated to the third floor of the Charlie Hotel.  Fortunately, no one was injured and no major damage occurred to the island’s infrastructure.  Debris washed onto the airfield which caused its temporary closure for less than 24 hours. 

The Short-tailed albatross nest was washed over again, but the chick was found unharmed about 35 m away and returned unharmed to its nest area.  A minimum of 2,000 adult/subadult and tens of thousands of Laysan Albatross chicks were lost.  Thousands of Bonin petrels were buried alive. Spit Island completely washed over.  Eastern and Sand Island were 60% and 20% washed over, respectively.  Thousands of dead fish were found in the interior of Eastern.  Two live green turtles were rescued from the middle of Eastern.  The impacts on Laysan ducks and monk seals are unknown. 

Bonin petrel stuck in the sand Laysan albatross stuck in the debris Albatross chicks stuck in the debris
Bonin petrel rescued from being stuck in the sand Laysan albatross stuck in the debris - 3 were rescued Rescued albatross chicks stuck in the debris
Group of albatross chicks on Eastern Island were spared Short-tailed albatross chick survived the tsunami Turtle being rescued on Eastern Island
Group of albatross chicks on Eastern Island were spared Short-tailed albatross chick survived the tsunami Turtle being rescued on Eastern Island
Laysan albatross rescued and returned to Eastern Island Muddy albatross chick Part of the pier on Eastern Island ended up on the gun
Laysan albatross rescued and returned to Eastern Island Muddy albatross chick Part of the pier on Eastern Island ended up on the gun

All photos - Pete Leary/USFWS

Map of inundation

February 2012 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Marine Debris Information Update (pdf 87KB)

March 25, 2011 - Coast Guard Patrol Flight Reveals Extent of Tsunami Damage to Papahānaumokuākea

March 21, 2011 - Wisdom Found! The world’s oldest documented wild bird, Wisdom, was seen feeding her chick

March 18, 2011 - Seabird Losses at Midway Atoll National Wildlife RefugeGreatly Exceed Early Estimates

For more coverage of the tsunami, go to our regional Flickr site.
Last updated: March 1, 2012