World Map › Major Tsunamis Since 1900 › 1979
Historic Tsunami
1979 Indonesia Tsunami
12 September 1979 · Irian Jaya · Indonesia
On 12 September 1979 at 05:17 UTC, a tsunami formed near Irian Jaya, Indonesia. It was caused by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake. Waves reached up to 2.0 m high. It was observed at 2 locations. It killed at least 115 people.
- Date
- 12 September 1979
- Time
- 05:17 UTC
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake Magnitude
- 7.9
- Highest Wave
- 2.0 m
- Observation Sites
- 2
- Furthest Reach
- 59 km
- Deaths
- 115
- Homes Destroyed
- 1,000
- Source Country
- Indonesia
- Triggering Earthquake
- 1979 Yapen Earthquake
Highest Waves
- 2.0 mBiak I., West Irian · Indonesia · 59 km
Other Major Tsunamis in the Region
- 2009Near North Coast, Indonesia · 0.4 m5 deaths
- 1996Irian Jaya, Indonesia · 7.7 m164 deaths
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth