Historical tsunamis · May 13, 1857
1857 Bali Sea tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of May 13, 1857 originated near Bali Sea (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- May 13, 1857
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.0
- Depth
- 50 km
- Maximum documented water height
- 3.40 m
- Deaths
- 36
- Houses destroyed
- some (about 51–100)
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 4
- Countries affected
- 2
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake at a depth of 50 km.
The highest documented water height was 3.40 m (Dili Bay, Timor Island, East Timor).
4 observation sites in 2 countries are recorded.
The database records 36 deaths.
Houses destroyed: some (about 51–100).
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
4Each 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Timor | 3 | 3.40 m Dili Bay, Timor Island | — | — |
| Indonesia | 1 | — | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
4 / 4Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dili Bay, Timor Island | 3.40 m | 1,112 km | East Timor |
| Ambon, Ambon Island · Maluku | — | 1,483 km | Indonesia |
| Hera, Timor Island | — | 1,124 km | East Timor |
| Likisa (Liquica), Timor Island | — | 1,086 km | East Timor |
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.