Historical tsunamis · Apr 1, 1936, 2:09 AM UTC
1936 Sulawesi tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Apr 1, 1936, 2:09 AM UTC originated near Sulawesi (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Apr 1, 1936, 2:09 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.7
- Depth
- 60 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 3.00 m
- Injuries
- 3
- Houses destroyed
- 169
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake at a depth of 60 km.
The highest documented water height was 3.00 m (Salebabu Island, Indonesia).
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Houses destroyed: 169.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
2Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 2 | 3.00 m Salebabu Island | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
2 / 2Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salebabu Island · North Sulawesi | 3.00 m | 84 km | Indonesia |
| Manganitu, Sangihe Island · North Sulawesi | — | 149 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.