Historical tsunamis · Jan 5, 1843
1843 SW. Sumatra tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Jan 5, 1843 originated near SW. Sumatra (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Jan 5, 1843
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.3
- Depth
- 70 km
- Maximum documented water height
- —
- Deaths
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 3
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake at a depth of 70 km.
3 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records many (about 101–1,000) deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 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 | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barus, Sumatra · North Sumatra | — | 72 km | Indonesia |
| Kampong de Mego, Sumatra · North Sumatra | — | 55 km | Indonesia |
| Nias Island, Sumatra · North Sumatra | — | 56 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.