Historical tsunamis · Sep 12, 2007, 11:10 AM UTC
2007 Sumatra tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Sep 12, 2007, 11:10 AM UTC originated near Sumatra (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Sep 12, 2007, 11:10 AM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.4
- Depth
- 34 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 5.00 m
- Deaths
- 25
- Injuries
- 161
- Houses destroyed
- 56,425
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 56
- Countries affected
- 13
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.4 earthquake at a depth of 34 km.
The highest documented water height was 5.00 m (Serangai, Sumatra, Indonesia).
56 observation sites in 13 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Jurien Bay (Australia) after 4:25 h.
The database records 25 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 56,425.
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
56Each 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) · Sep 12, 2007, 11:10 AM UTC
- 4:25 hAustralia · Jurien Bay · 0.09 m
- 5:20 hIndia · Kavaratti, Lakshadweep · 0.03 m
- 10:20 hSouth Africa · Port Elizabeth
7 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 31 | 5.00 m Serangai, Sumatra | — | — |
| Reunion (French Territory) | 4 | 1.13 m Saint Gilles | — | — |
 Oman | 2 | 0.66 m Salalah | — | — |
 Mauritius | 1 | 0.57 m Rodrigues Island, Port Mathurin | — | — |
 Australia | 5 | 0.32 m Geraldton | — | 4:25 h |
 Sri Lanka | 2 | 0.30 m Colombo | — | — |
 Seychelles | 1 | 0.20 m Pointe la Rue, Mahe Island | — | — |
 India | 2 | 0.15 m Verem, Goa | — | 5:20 h |
 Maldives | 3 | 0.12 m Hanimaadhoo, Haa Dhaalu | — | — |
| UK Territory | 1 | 0.05 m Diego Garcia, Chagos Islands | — | — |
 Thailand | 2 | 0.04 m Kotaphao Noi, Phuket Island | — | — |
 Kenya | 1 | 0.04 m Lamu | — | — |
 South Africa | 1 | — | — | 10:20 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 56Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serangai, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 5.00 m | 126 km | Indonesia |
| Lais 1, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 3.90 m | 125 km | Indonesia |
| Pantai Indah 3 · Bengkulu | 3.60 m | 207 km | Indonesia |
| Pasar Bawah Manna, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 3.50 m | 170 km | Indonesia |
| Karang Pulau, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 3.30 m | 130 km | Indonesia |
| Lais 2, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 3.00 m | 125 km | Indonesia |
| Serangai 2, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 3.00 m | 126 km | Indonesia |
| Pantai Indah 1 · Bengkulu | 2.75 m | 206 km | Indonesia |
| Desa Seranga, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 2.35 m | 126 km | Indonesia |
| South Ipuh, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 2.20 m | 151 km | Indonesia |
| Pantai Indah 2 · Bengkulu | 2.15 m | 207 km | Indonesia |
| Pasar Seluma, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 2.00 m | 132 km | Indonesia |
| South Air Rami, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 2.00 m | 148 km | Indonesia |
| Pantai Indah, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 1.90 m | 133 km | Indonesia |
| Air Rami, Sumatra · Bengkulu | 1.80 m | 149 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.