Significant earthquakes of 1847

November 16, 1847 Earthquake: Cheribon, Java, Indonesia

November 16, 1847

An earthquake struck Cheribon, Java, Indonesia on November 16, 1847.

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 16, 1847
Place
Cheribon, Java, Indonesia
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
6.670° S, 108.550° E
Country
Indonesia

The toll

Damage
Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)

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.

1847, November 16. Java and S.E. Sumatra, Cheribon (Palimanan, Rembang, Semarang and Lampong). Intensity III which corresponds to an earthquake which destroyed

towns and devastated districts. (reference #1055)

1847, November 16. Much harm was done in the town of Cheribonand on the NW and NE slopes of Mount Tjerimai. Damage was caused also as far as Indramajoe to the north and Tom0 and Soemedang to the west. (Wichmann, p. 124-126). (reference #1122)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1847The 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 1891.