Historical tsunamis · Jan 21, 1994, 2:24 AM UTC
1994 Halmahera tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Jan 21, 1994, 2:24 AM UTC originated near Halmahera (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 21, 1994, 2:24 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.0
- Depth
- 20 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 2.00 m
- Deaths
- 9
- Injuries
- 300
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 3
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake at a depth of 20 km.
The highest documented water height was 2.00 m (Payout, Halmahera Island, Indonesia).
3 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 9 deaths.
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
3Each 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 | 2.00 m Payout, Halmahera Island | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
3 / 3Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payout, Halmahera Island · North Maluku | 2.00 m | 85 km | Indonesia |
| Kao, Halmahera Island · North Maluku | 1.00 m | 25 km | Indonesia |
| Malifut, Halmahera Island · North Maluku | 1.00 m | 20 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.