Historical tsunamis · May 26, 1914, 2:22 PM UTC
1914 NW. Irian Jaya tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of May 26, 1914, 2:22 PM UTC originated near NW. Irian Jaya (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- May 26, 1914, 2:22 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.1
- Depth
- 15 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 0.10 m
- Deaths
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake at a depth of 15 km.
The highest documented water height was 0.10 m (Honolulu, Oahu, Hi, United States).
4 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records many (about 101–1,000) deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
4Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 United States | 1 | 0.10 m Honolulu, Oahu, Hi | — | — |
| Indonesia | 3 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
4 / 4Individual documented observations for this event. Heights come from different measurement types and sources; not every location has a measured height.
| Location / station | Observed height | Distance from source | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, Oahu, Hi · Hi | 0.10 m | 7,534 km | United States |
| Ansus, Japen I., Irian Jaya · West Papua | — | 126 km | Indonesia |
| Bandanaira (Banda-Neira), Banda Is. · Maluku | — | 838 km | Indonesia |
| Pom, Japen I., Irian Jaya · West Papua | — | 140 km | Indonesia |
More tsunamis
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Historical Tsunami Database. Confirmed events only. Deaths and damage are database estimates; older records are incomplete. Water heights come from different types of observation.