Significant earthquakes of 1837

November 28, 1837 Earthquake: Bima, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia

November 28, 1837

An earthquake struck Bima, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia on November 28, 1837.

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
November 28, 1837
Place
Bima, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia
Intensity
9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
8.500° S, 118.500° E
Country
Indonesia

The toll

Damage
Moderate (about $1 to $5 million); Limited (under about $1 million) with its tsunami and other effects
Houses destroyed
Some (about 51 to 100) 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.

1837, November 28. Intensity VIII-IX. Bima: Sumbawa - a strong earthquake occurred and caused severe damage to buildings, some of which collapsed. (reference #1188)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1837The 1800sRecent 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 1804.