Historical tsunamis · Mar 9, 1861
1861 SW. Sumatra tsunami
Indonesia
The tsunami of Mar 9, 1861 originated near SW. Sumatra (Indonesia).
Key facts
- Date
- Mar 9, 1861
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Magnitude
- M7.0
- Depth
- 20 km
- Maximum documented water height
- —
- Deaths
- 950
- Houses destroyed
- 96
- Damage
- severe (about US$ 5–25 million)
- Observation records
- 2
- Countries affected
- 1
It was triggered by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake at a depth of 20 km.
2 observation sites in 1 countries are recorded.
The database records 950 deaths.
Houses destroyed: 96.
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 | — | 750 | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pulu Tello (Palau Telo), Sumatra · West Sumatra | — | 30 km | Indonesia |
| Simuk Island, Sumatra · West Sumatra | — | 17 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.