Tsunamis in Indonesia
A total of 77 tidal waves classified as a tsunami since 1608 have killed 223,347 people in Indonesia. Tsunamis therefore occur comparatively often in this country.The strongest tidal wave registered in Indonesia so far reached a height of one hundred meters. On 02/17/1674, this tsunami killed a total of 2,244 people.
The biggest impact in terms of lifes, injuries, destroyed homes and the economy had been a tsunami on 09/28/2018. A tidal wave of up to 10.73 meters killed 3,980 humans and destroyed vast areas.
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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 350 years.
The largest tsunamis in Indonesia since 1674
| Date | Cause | Max. tidal wave | Fatalities | Total damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/22/2018 | Volcano, landslide in Indonesia (Krakatau) | 85.27 m | 152 | |
| 09/28/2018 | Earthquake, landslide in Indonesia (Sulawesi) with a magnitude of 7.5. | 10.73 m | 3,980 | |
| 07/28/2018 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Bali Sea) with a magnitude of 6.4. | 2.5 m | 0 | |
| 03/11/2011 | Earthquakes in Japan (Honshu Island) with a magnitude of 9.1. The tsunami caused damages in 11 further countries. A total of 18,431 humans died. | 2.8 m | 1 | |
| 10/25/2010 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Sumatra) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 16.86 m | 553 | |
| 09/12/2007 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Sumatra) with a magnitude of 8.4. The tsunami also reached Reunion, Thailand. | 5 m | 0 | |
| 07/17/2006 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (South Of Java) with a magnitude of 7.7. | 20.90 m | 1,094 | |
| 12/26/2004 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Off W. Coast Of Sumatra) with a magnitude of 9.1. The tsunami caused damages in 20 further countries. A total of 227,899 humans died. | 50.90 m | 167,540 | |
| 05/04/2000 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Sulawesi) with a magnitude of 7.6. | 6 m | 0 | |
| 02/17/1996 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Irian Jaya) with a magnitude of 8.2. | 7.7 m | 71 | |
| 01/01/1996 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Sulawesi) with a magnitude of 7.9. | 3.4 m | 9 | |
| 10/08/1994 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Halmahera) with a magnitude of 6.8. | 3 m | 1 | |
| 06/02/1994 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (South Of Java) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 13.90 m | 238 | |
| 12/12/1992 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Flores Sea) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 26.20 m | 1,157 | |
| 09/12/1979 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Irian Jaya) with a magnitude of 7.9. | 2 m | 100 | |
| 07/18/1979 | Landslide in Indonesia (Lomblen Island [lembata]) | 9 m | 1,239 | |
| 08/19/1977 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Sunda Islands) with a magnitude of 8.0. | 15 m | 214 | |
| 08/14/1968 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Banda Sea) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 10 m | 200 | |
| 01/24/1965 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Sanana Island) with a magnitude of 7.6. | 0 m | 71 | |
| 10/08/1950 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Banda Sea) with a magnitude of 7.6. | 0 m | 1 | |
| 08/04/1928 | Volcano, landslide in Indonesia (Flores Sea) | 10 m | 128 | |
| 01/04/1907 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Nw. Sumatra) with a magnitude of 7.6. The tsunami also reached Sri Lanka, Reunion. | 15 m | 508 | |
| 09/29/1899 | Earthquake, landslide in Indonesia (Banda Sea) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 12 m | 2,742 | |
| 08/27/1883 | Volcano in Indonesia (Krakatau) The tsunami also reached Australia, Sri Lanka, India, New Zealand, Reunion. | 41 m | 36,000 | |
| 03/03/1871 | Volcano in Indonesia (Ruang) | 25 m | 677 | |
| 05/23/1864 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Nw. Irian Jaya) with a magnitude of 7.8. | 3 m | 250 | |
| 03/09/1861 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Sw. Sumatra) with a magnitude of 7.0. | 0 m | 950 | |
| 02/16/1861 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Sw. Sumatra) with a magnitude of 8.5. | 7 m | 1,105 | |
| 12/29/1820 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Flores Sea) with a magnitude of 7.5. | 25 m | 500 | |
| 02/17/1674 | Earthquakes in Indonesia (Banda Sea) with a magnitude of 6.8. | 100 m | 2,244 |
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.
Most severe natural disasters worldwide
Recent earthquakes and their magnitudes in Indonesia
Active volcanoes and eruptions in Indonesia