December 14, 1885 Earthquake: Banda Atjeh, Indonesia
An earthquake struck Banda Atjeh, Indonesia on December 14, 1885. 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
- December 14, 1885
- Place
- Banda Atjeh, Indonesia
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 5.550° N, 95.300° E
- Country
- Indonesia
- Region
- South and Southeast Asia and Indian Ocean
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1885, December 14, 21:11. There was a short earthquake of magnitude 4-6 degrees (V-VI1 Rossi-Forel) at Banda Atjeh; there were many aftershocks. On the same day, and also on the 15th, 16th, 17th and 19th, the water in the river was high; on the 21st, the water level fell below usual. (reference #414)
Sources NCEI cites
The publications NCEI lists for this record. The numbers match the “reference #” notes in its account above.
- #414 Soloviev, S.L., and Ch.N. Go (1974). A catalogue of tsunamis on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean [dates include 173-1968. Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Nauka Publishing House, Moscow, 439 p. [Canadian Translation of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences no. 5077, 1984, translation available from Canada Institute for Scientific and Technical Information, National Research Council, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A OS2, 447 p.]
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 6, 2016, Pidie Jaya, Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
- July 2, 2013, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- August 23, 1936, Banda Aceh,lhok Sukon,lhoksemawe, Indonesia
- October 22, 2013, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- January 21, 2013, N, Sumatera, Indonesia
- January 31, 1886, Koeta Radja (Atjeh), Indonesia
- July 8, 1922, Lhoknga, Aceh, Indonesia
- March 21, 1888, Breueh Island, Sumatera, Indonesia
- April 2, 1964, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- June 2, 1948, Off Northwest Coast, Indonesia
- April 4, 1983, Banda Aceh, Sumatera, Indonesia
- May 9, 1949, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- September 29, 1837, Banda Atjeh, Indonesia
- May 19, 1887, Sigli, Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
- May 19, 1891, Sigli, Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1885The 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 2026-10-01. NCEI earthquake 6210.