Historical tsunamis · Nov 25, 1852, 10:40 PM UTC
1852 Banda Sea tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Nov 25, 1852, 10:40 PM UTC originated near Banda Sea (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Nov 25, 1852, 10:40 PM UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M8.3
- Depth
- 100 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 8.00 m
- Deaths
- 60
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 22
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake at a depth of 100 km.
The highest documented water height was 8.00 m (Ambon (Amboina) Island, Indonesia).
22 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records 60 deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 million).
Map of observation sites
22Each 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 | 21 | 8.00 m Ambon (Amboina) Island | 60 | — |
| Micronesia, Fed. States Of | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
15 / 22Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambon (Amboina) Island · Maluku | 8.00 m | 246 km | Indonesia |
| Between Neira and Lonthor Islands · Maluku | 3.50 m | 80 km | Indonesia |
| Saparua Island · Maluku | 3.00 m | 223 km | Indonesia |
| Bandanaira (Banda-Neira), Banda Is. · Maluku | 2.00 m | 81 km | Indonesia |
| Ai Island · Maluku | 1.00 m | 80 km | Indonesia |
| Amahai · Maluku | — | 229 km | Indonesia |
| Buru Island · Maluku | — | 365 km | Indonesia |
| Caroline Islands | — | 2,390 km | Micronesia, Fed. States Of |
| Ceram Island · Maluku | — | 244 km | Indonesia |
| Grati Lake, Pasuruan District · East Java | — | 1,871 km | Indonesia |
| Haruku Island · Maluku | — | 235 km | Indonesia |
| Hila, Ambon Island · Maluku | — | 261 km | Indonesia |
| Hulaliu · Maluku | — | 230 km | Indonesia |
| Kulor · Maluku | — | 233 km | Indonesia |
| Laot (Laut) Island · South Kalimantan | — | 205 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.