Historical tsunamis · May 19, 1938, 5:08 PM UTC
1938 Makassar Strait tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of May 19, 1938, 5:08 PM UTC originated near Makassar Strait (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- May 19, 1938, 5:08 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.7
- Depth
- 35 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 3.00 m
- Deaths
- 17
- Houses destroyed
- 942
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 7
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake at a depth of 35 km.
The highest documented water height was 3.00 m (Mambara (Mamboro), Sulawesi, Indonesia).
7 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records 17 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 942.
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
7Each 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 | 6 | 3.00 m Mambara (Mamboro), Sulawesi | 17 | — |
 United States | 1 | 0.10 m Santa Monica, Ca | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
7 / 7Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mambara (Mamboro), Sulawesi · Central Sulawesi | 3.00 m | 111 km | Indonesia |
| Parigi · Central Sulawesi | 3.00 m | 41 km | Indonesia |
| Toribulu · Central Sulawesi | 3.00 m | 68 km | Indonesia |
| Santa Monica, Ca · Ca Classified as doubtful | 0.10 m | 12,829 km | United States |
| Ampibabo, Molucca Islands, Sulawesi · Central Sulawesi | — | 69 km | Indonesia |
| Donggala · Central Sulawesi | — | 112 km | Indonesia |
| Lemo - Makatate · Central Sulawesi | — | 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.