Historical tsunamis · Mar 2, 1856
1856 Sangihe Island tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Mar 2, 1856 originated near Sangihe Island (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 2, 1856
- Cause
- Volcanic eruption
- Maximum documented water height
- —
- Deaths
- 2,806
- Injuries
- some (about 51–100)
- Houses destroyed
- many (about 101–1,000)
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
Cause according to NOAA/NCEI: Volcanic eruption.
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 2,806 deaths.
Houses destroyed: many (about 101–1,000).
Damage is estimated at severe (about US$ 5–25 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 | — | — | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalongan, Sulawesi · North Sulawesi | — | 9 km | Indonesia |
| Tariang, Sulawesi · North Sulawesi | — | 11 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.