Significant earthquakes of 1840

February 14, 1840 Earthquake: Ternate Island, Maluku, Indonesia

February 14, 1840 · 500 houses destroyed

An earthquake struck Ternate Island, Maluku, Indonesia on February 14, 1840. It caused a tsunami.

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
February 14, 1840
Place
Ternate Island, Maluku, Indonesia
Epicenter
0.800° N, 127.325° E
Country
Indonesia

The toll

Damage
Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
Houses destroyed
500

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.

Reference #414:

1840, February 14. There was an eruption of the volcano on Ternate Island on February 2. The eruption was not accompanied by any underground shocks. In the afternoon of the 14th, a terrifying rumble was heard and lasted 5-10 minutes. During a terrible downpour, following two light oscillations, a strong shock occurred which knocked over most of the residences. The ground cracked in many places. Water rushed inland and this added to the destruction.

Reference #497:

1840, February 14. Island of Ternate. Exceedingly violent. Preceded by a volcanic eruption on the 2nd.

Reference #1073:

1846, February 14 [probably refers to 1840, Feb 14]. At Ternate; the island made a waste and thousands of lives lost.

Reference #11528:

The strongest quake on 14 February caused 500 houses to collapse along with heavy damage to Fort Oranje. Shocks continued through March.

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1840The 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 6558.