Tsunamis in East Timor
A total of 3 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1857 have killed 11 people in East Timor. Tsunamis therefore occur only rarely here.The strongest tidal wave registered in East Timor so far reached a height of four meters. On 05/14/1995, this tsunami killed a total of 11 people.
Other natural hazards in East Timor:
› Cyclones
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Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes or other seismic eruptions on ground of an oceans and can cause massive tidal waves, which run with enormous force on land, causing great devastation. Especially in regions with only few tsunamis, the damage is often drastic, as the population does not expect tsunamis and thus hardly takes any protective measures. Even relatively small flood waves can lead to high losses and financial damage.
The marked positions on the map represent the most affected regions within the past 30 years.
The marked positions on the map represent the most affected regions within the past 30 years.
The largest tsunamis in East Timor since 1857
| Date | Cause | Max. tidal wave | Fatalities | Total damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/11/2004 | Earthquake in Indonesia (Kepulauan Alor) with a magnitude of 7.5. | 2 m | 0 | |
| 05/14/1995 | Earthquake, landslide in Indonesia (Timor Sea) with a magnitude of 6.9. | 4 m | 11 | |
| 05/13/1857 | Earthquake in Indonesia (Bali Sea) with a magnitude of 7.0. | 3.4 m | 0 |
These evaluations are based on data from the Global Historical Tsunami Database of the National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA, and World Data Service (NGDC/WDS), doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Individual data have been summarized or translated.
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