Historical tsunamis · Jan 24, 1965, 12:11 AM UTC
1965 Sanana Island tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Jan 24, 1965, 12:11 AM UTC originated near Sanana Island (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 24, 1965, 12:11 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.6
- Depth
- 6 km
- Maximum documented water height
- —
- Deaths
- 71
- Houses destroyed
- 3,000
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake at a depth of 6 km.
4 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records 71 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 3,000.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 3 | — | 71 | — |
| USA Territory | 1 | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mangole Island · North Maluku | — | 98 km | Indonesia |
| Namlea, Buru Island · Maluku | — | 149 km | Indonesia |
| Pago Pago, American Samoa · As Classified as doubtful | — | 7,064 km | USA Territory |
| Sanana, Sanana Island · North Maluku | — | 42 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.