Historical tsunamis · Feb 10, 1797
1797 SW. Sumatra tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Feb 10, 1797 originated near SW. Sumatra (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Feb 10, 1797
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.0
- Maximum documented water height
- —
- Deaths
- 300
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.0 earthquake.
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 300 deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
2Each 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 | 2 | — | 300 | — |
Highest documented water heights
2 / 2Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batu Island, Sumatra · West Sumatra | — | 60 km | Indonesia |
| Padang, Sumatra · West Sumatra | — | 183 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.