Historical tsunamis · Jul 29, 1859
1859 N. Moluccas Islands tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Jul 29, 1859 originated near N. Moluccas Islands (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Jul 29, 1859
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.3
- Maximum documented water height
- 1.00 m
- Houses destroyed
- some (about 51–100)
- Damage
- moderate (about US$ 1–5 million)
- Observation records
- 5
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake.
The highest documented water height was 1.00 m (Ternate Island, Indonesia).
5 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
Houses destroyed: some (about 51–100).
Damage is estimated at moderate (about US$ 1–5 million).
Map of observation sites
5Each 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 | 5 | 1.00 m Ternate Island | — | — |
Highest documented water heights
5 / 5Individual 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ternate Island · North Maluku | 1.00 m | 227 km | Indonesia |
| Banggai Island · Central Sulawesi | — | 280 km | Indonesia |
| Kema, Sulawesi Island · North Sulawesi | — | 158 km | Indonesia |
| Makian Island · North Maluku | — | 218 km | Indonesia |
| Tidore Island · North Maluku | — | 222 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.