Historical tsunamis · Feb 1, 1938, 7:04 PM UTC
1938 Banda Sea tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Feb 1, 1938, 7:04 PM UTC originated near Banda Sea (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 1, 1938, 7:04 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.6
- Depth
- 25 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.00 m
- Houses destroyed
- 24
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 5
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.6 earthquake at a depth of 25 km.
The highest documented water height was 1.00 m (Banda Elat, Indonesia).
5 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Houses destroyed: 24.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
5Each 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 | 5 | 1.00 m Banda Elat | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
5 / 5Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banda Elat · Maluku | 1.00 m | 166 km | Indonesia |
| Tual · Maluku | 1.00 m | 142 km | Indonesia |
| Bandanaira (Banda-Neira), Banda Is. · Maluku | — | 198 km | Indonesia |
| Fakfak · West Papua | — | 246 km | Indonesia |
| Tajandu Island · Maluku | — | 94 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.