September 5, 1711 Earthquake: Banda Sea, Indonesia
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Banda Sea, Indonesia on September 5, 1711. It killed 2 people, counting the tsunami it caused.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- September 5, 1711
- Place
- Banda Sea, Indonesia
- Magnitude
- 7 (Ms)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 4.000° S, 129.000° E
- Country
- Indonesia
The toll
- Deaths
- 2 with its tsunami and other effects
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million) with its tsunami and other effects
- Houses destroyed
- 2 with its tsunami and other effects
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1711, September 5, between 22:00 and 23:00 [local time]. Ambon. There were tidal waves, like the waves of 28.X1.1708, which lasted till 8:30... At Kampung-Mardjlka, the water left a well [the result of an earthquake?]. On the islands of Haruku, Saparua, Laot and Banda, a strong earthquake occurred at the same time as a tidal wave appeared in Ambon Bay; 13-14 shocks were recorded. (reference #414)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- September 29, 1899, Banda Sea, Indonesia
- February 17, 1674, Ambon Island, Seram Island, Indonesia
- November 25, 1852, Bandanaira, Maluku, Indonesia
- September 25, 2019, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia
- August 1, 1629, Banda Sea, Indonesia
- August 18, 1754, Ambon Island, Indonesia
- November 12, 2019, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia
- October 8, 1950, Seram, Indonesia
- October 10, 2019, Passo, Indonesia
- October 31, 2017, Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia
- January 16, 2016, Buru, Ambalau Island, Maluku, Indonesia
- July 4, 1904, South Maluku, Indonesia
- January 4, 1854, Banda Sea, Indonesia
- June 16, 2021, Maluku, Indonesia
- April 11, 1815, Ambon Island, Indonesia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1711The 1700sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 6021.