Actually, this area is NOT the one which was hit by that tsunami in '98. That quake was centered off the coast of Papua New Guinea (same island and same side of this island) which is several hundred miles to the east of this area. It is doubtful those in the Bird's Neck area even felt that '98 quake. I was living outside of Jayapura at the time and I did not feel the '98 quake.
What is devastating however, is that in January and February of either 2003 or 2004, this area in the Bird's Neck (Naibire area) were well over 100 earthquakes over 4.0. That swarm did extensive damage and the area was still in the recovery process.
Before you ask, I am not now living outside of Jayapura and therefore didn't feel this quake. I did feel some of the quake swarm earlier this year (or the last).
Glad to hear that you were nowhere near the quake this time. There are reports of some deaths from this quake.
I remember that quite clearly that tsunami, it is what comes to mind when tsunami comes to my mind.
It was to those villages what Mt. St Helens was with it's mud flow.
Palm/coconut trees swept away like toothpicks.
It was early in the morning if I remember correctly and caught the people off guard.