Historic Tsunami

2005 Indonesia Tsunami

28 March 2005 · Indonesia

On 28 March 2005 at 16:09 UTC, a tsunami formed near Indonesia. It was caused by a magnitude 8.6 earthquake. Waves reached up to 4.2 m high. It was observed at 75 locations in 12 countries or territories, up to 8,985 km from its source. It killed at least 1,319 people and injured 340. It is the 44th deadliest of the tsunamis recorded since 1900.

Date

28 March 2005

Time

16:09 UTC

Cause

Earthquake

Earthquake Magnitude

8.6

Highest Wave

4.2 m

Observation Sites

75

Furthest Reach

8,985 km

Deaths

1,319

Injuries

340

Homes Destroyed

300

Source Country

Indonesia

Triggering Earthquake

2005 Sumatra Earthquake

Countries and Territories Reached

Number of observations, highest wave and deaths in each country.

• 2Sri Lanka · 1.4 m10 deaths
• 1Madagascar6 deaths
• 49Indonesia · 4.2 m
• 1Oman · 0.4 m
• 3France · 0.4 m
• 1Seychelles · 0.3 m
• 2Mauritius · 0.3 m
• 10Australia · 0.3 m
• 3Maldives · 0.2 m
• 1Kenya · 0.1 m
• 1Tanzania · 0.1 m
• 1Antarctica

Highest Waves

• 4.2 mBusung Bay, Simeulue · Indonesia · 93 km
• 4.2 mBusung Bay, Simeulue · Indonesia · 93 km
• 4.0 mNias Island, Sumatra · Indonesia · 130 km
• 3.6 mLagundri Bay, Nias · Indonesia · 180 km
• 3.5 mLagundri Bay, Nias · Indonesia · 181 km
• 3.5 mPulau Bangkaru, Banyak Islands · Indonesia · 1 km
• 3.5 mPulau Bangkaru, Banyak Islands · Indonesia · 1 km
• 3.4 mPulau Asu · Indonesia · 132 km
• 3.3 mTeluk Mariabah, Pulau Tuangku · Indonesia · 25 km
• 3.3 mLagundri Bay, Nias · Indonesia · 181 km

Other Major Tsunamis in the Region

• 2012Off West Coast of N Sumatra, Indonesia · 1.1 m10 deaths
• 2009Sumatra, Indonesia · 0.3 m1,117 deaths
• 2004Off West Coast of Sumatra, Indonesia · 50.9 m227,899 deaths
• 1967Northeast Sumatra, Indonesia14 deaths
• 1907Nw. Sumatra, Indonesia · 15.0 m2,188 deaths

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Tsunami Database (doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7) · Natural Earth