Historical tsunamis · Mar 28, 2005, 4:09 PM UTC
2005 Indonesia tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Mar 28, 2005, 4:09 PM UTC originated near Indonesia (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 28, 2005, 4:09 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.6
- Depth
- 30 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 4.20 m
- Deaths
- 1,319
- Injuries
- 340
- Houses destroyed
- 300
- Damage
- extreme (over US$ 25 million)
- Observation records
- 76
- Countries affected
- 12
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.6 earthquake at a depth of 30 km.
The highest documented water height was 4.20 m (Busung Bay, Simeulue, Indonesia).
76 observation sites in 12 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Cocos Island (Keeling) (Australia) after 1:54 h.
The database records 1,319 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 300.
Damage is estimated at extreme (over US$ 25 million).
Map of observation sites
76Each dot is a documented observation site; colour and size show the observed water height. The triangle marks the source.
Tsunami arrival times
Documented arrival times from the NOAA/NCEI database, showing the earliest recorded location per country. Coverage is incomplete: a country without an entry was not necessarily spared.
- 0:00 hEarthquake (origin) · Mar 28, 2005, 4:09 PM UTC
- 1:54 hAustralia · Cocos Island (Keeling) · 0.12 m
- 2:56 hSri Lanka · Kirinda · 1.35 m
- 3:40 hMaldives · Gan · 0.11 m
- 5:43 hMauritius · Rodrigues Island, Port Mathurin · 0.26 m
- 7:18 hSeychelles · Pointe la Rue, Mahe Island · 0.27 m
- 7:40 hOman · Salalah · 0.43 m
- 9:08 hKenya · Lamu · 0.09 m
- 9:58 hTanzania · Zanzibar · 0.06 m
20 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 50 | 4.20 m Busung Bay, Simeulue | — | — |
 Sri Lanka | 2 | 1.35 m Kirinda | 10 | 2:56 h |
 Oman | 1 | 0.43 m Salalah | — | 7:40 h |
| Reunion (French Territory) | 3 | 0.40 m Saint Gilles | — | — |
 Seychelles | 1 | 0.27 m Pointe la Rue, Mahe Island | — | 7:18 h |
 Mauritius | 2 | 0.26 m Rodrigues Island, Port Mathurin | — | 5:43 h |
 Australia | 10 | 0.25 m Bunbury | — | 1:54 h |
 Maldives | 3 | 0.21 m Hanimaadhoo, Haa Dhaalu | — | 3:40 h |
 Kenya | 1 | 0.09 m Lamu | — | 9:08 h |
 Tanzania | 1 | 0.06 m Zanzibar | — | 9:58 h |
 Antarctica | 1 | — | — | — |
 Madagascar | 1 | — | 6 | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 76Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Busung Bay, Simeulue · Aceh | 4.20 m | 92 km | Indonesia |
| Busung Bay, Simeulue · Aceh | 4.20 m | 93 km | Indonesia |
| Nias Island, Sumatra · North Sumatra | 4.00 m | 130 km | Indonesia |
| Lagundri Bay, Nias · North Sumatra | 3.60 m | 180 km | Indonesia |
| Lagundri Bay, Nias · North Sumatra | 3.50 m | 180 km | Indonesia |
| Pulau Bangkaru, Banyak Islands · Aceh | 3.50 m | 1 km | Indonesia |
| Pulau Bangkaru, Banyak Islands · Aceh | 3.50 m | 1 km | Indonesia |
| Pulau Asu · North Sumatra | 3.40 m | 132 km | Indonesia |
| Busung Bay, Simeulue · Aceh | 3.30 m | 92 km | Indonesia |
| Lagundri Bay, Nias · North Sumatra | 3.30 m | 181 km | Indonesia |
| Lagundri Bay, Nias · North Sumatra | 3.30 m | 180 km | Indonesia |
| Teluk Mariabah, Pulau Tuangku · Aceh | 3.30 m | 25 km | Indonesia |
| Pulau Bangkaru, Banyak Islands · Aceh | 3.05 m | 1 km | Indonesia |
| Pulau Tuangku, Banyak Islands · Aceh | 3.00 m | 18 km | Indonesia |
| Simeulue Island · Aceh | 3.00 m | 95 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.