November 25, 1852 Earthquake: Bandanaira, Maluku, Indonesia

Reference #414:

1852, November 26, 07:40 [local time]. On Neira Island, there were strong vertical shocks, which rapidly became undulating oscillations of growing force, which lasted 5 minutes. All the residents ran to the streets. It was impossible to stand without holding onto something. Most of the residences on the island were left in piles of ruins, and the homes which remained standing became unsuitable for habitation because of the numerous cracks. The part of Papenberg Mountain on which the signal station was situated collapsed. Numerous cracks appeared in the ground on the coast.

The earthquake did similar destruction on Lonthor Island as well. It was accompanied by a roar like cannon shots. After the earthquake there were many recurrent shocks, including some rather strong ones. The effects of the earthquake were also serious on the islands of Rozengain and Ai.

At Ambon, strong undulating tremors lasted 5 minutes with no destruction. The earthquake was similar in its effects at Hila and Larike. On Haruku Island, the walls of the church at Aboru and the walls of Fort Zelandia cracked. Many buildings were damaged on Saparua Island. The earthquake was felt on the islands of Laot, Buru, Ceram, and possibly on the islands of Batjan and Ternate. The flagstaff and trees swayed strongly at Labuha on Batjan Island.

At Bandaneria, 1/4 hour after the earthquake, the sea rose and the frightened residents took to the hills.

1852, November 26 (16, 23), 6:42 local time. At Surabaja, there were light shocks, which were also felt at Semarang and Pasuruan. There was a weak shock at Sumenep. The earthquakes were accompanied by movements of the water from north to south in Grati Lake (Pasuruan Distrit). [Apparently, these data relate to the earthquake described above.]

Reference #1188:

1852, November 26. Intensity VIII-IX. Bandanaira: Maluku - a strong earthquake was felt at Bandanaira - Banda Island and caused some buildings to collapse. The quake was followed by sea waves (tsunamis).

Reference #40:

1852, November 26, 04o34'S, 129o55'E.

Reference #1055:

1852, November 26. Moluccas, Great Banda, Loathoir, Papenberg, Neira; with sea waves, intensity III which corresponds to an earthquake which destroyed towns and devastated districts.

Reference #13185:

the earthquake generated its strongest felt intensity in the Banda Islands, which we have assigned MMI 8, and intensity decreases northward to MMI 4 at Ternate. Felt reports from eastern Java previously ascribed to this event1,20 appeared to imply an enormous felt area, but these observations are more likely associated with a Mw 5.7–6.0 earthquake on the Pasuruan Fault in eastern Java26. Similarly, the emergence of a small island in the Kai Archipelago observed in 1853 was thought to indicate coseismic displacement in the rupture area of the 1852 earthquake1,20, but we interpret this observation to be a mud volcano eruption, which is prevalent in the Kai Islands27 and can be triggered by earthquakes even at great distance28. We therefore discount the Kai Islands mud volcano as indicative of the rupture area of the 1852 earthquake.