Historical tsunamis · Oct 25, 2010, 2:42 PM UTC
2010 Sumatra tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Oct 25, 2010, 2:42 PM UTC originated near Sumatra (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Oct 25, 2010, 2:42 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.8
- Depth
- 20 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 16.9 m
- Deaths
- 431
- Houses destroyed
- 700
- Damage
- US$ 39 million
- Observation records
- 358
- Countries affected
- 8
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake at a depth of 20 km.
The highest documented water height was 16.9 m.
358 observation sites in 8 countries are recorded.
Outside the source country, the earliest documented arrival was at Cocos Island (Keeling) (Australia) after 1:23 h.
The database records 431 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 700.
Damage is estimated at US$ 39 million.
Map of observation sites
358Each 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) · Oct 25, 2010, 2:42 PM UTC
- 0:10 hIndonesia · Detumonga, North Pagai Island · 3.00 m
- 1:23 hAustralia · Cocos Island (Keeling) · 0.16 m
- 3:49 hSri Lanka · Trincomalee · 0.07 m
- 3:58 hUK Territory · Diego Garcia, Chagos Islands · 0.07 m
- 3:59 hMaldives · Gan · 0.05 m
- 5:52 hMauritius · Rodrigues Island, Port Mathurin · 0.40 m
- 7:52 hSeychelles · Pointe la Rue, Mahe Island · 0.12 m
17 places with a documented arrival time
Observations by country
| Country | Observation records | Maximum documented water height | Deaths | Earliest arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 340 | 16.9 m Sibigau Island | 553 | 0:10 h |
| Reunion (French Territory) | 7 | 1.72 m Sainte Marie | — | — |
 Mauritius | 2 | 0.40 m Rodrigues Island, Port Mathurin | — | 5:52 h |
 Maldives | 3 | 0.31 m Hanimaadhoo, Haa Dhaalu | — | 3:59 h |
 Australia | 2 | 0.16 m Cocos Island (Keeling) | — | 1:23 h |
 Seychelles | 1 | 0.12 m Pointe la Rue, Mahe Island | — | 7:52 h |
 Sri Lanka | 2 | 0.09 m Colombo | — | 3:49 h |
| UK Territory | 1 | 0.07 m Diego Garcia, Chagos Islands | — | 3:58 h |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 358Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sibigau Island · West Sumatra | 16.86 m | 47 km | Indonesia |
| Sibigau Island · West Sumatra | 14.76 m | 48 km | Indonesia |
| Sibigau Island · West Sumatra | 14.06 m | 48 km | Indonesia |
| Sibigau Island · West Sumatra | 12.61 m | 48 km | Indonesia |
| Sibigau Island · West Sumatra | 11.51 m | 48 km | Indonesia |
| Pitojetsabeu Island · West Sumatra | 10.56 m | 52 km | Indonesia |
| Sibigau Island · West Sumatra | 10.41 m | 49 km | Indonesia |
| Sibigau Island · West Sumatra | 10.16 m | 47 km | Indonesia |
| Sibigau Island · West Sumatra | 10.06 m | 48 km | Indonesia |
| South Libaut Island · West Sumatra | 9.66 m | 44 km | Indonesia |
| South Libaut Island · West Sumatra | 9.49 m | 44 km | Indonesia |
| Sibarubaru Island · West Sumatra | 9.45 m | 36 km | Indonesia |
| Asahan · West Sumatra | 9.30 m | 51 km | Indonesia |
| Siduamata Island · West Sumatra | 9.05 m | 130 km | Indonesia |
| South Libaut Island · West Sumatra | 9.00 m | 44 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.