Significant earthquakes of 1890

November 23, 1890 Earthquake: Bandaneira, Indonesia

November 23, 1890

An earthquake struck Bandaneira, Indonesia on November 23, 1890.

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 23, 1890
Place
Bandaneira, Indonesia
Intensity
7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
4.500° S, 129.900° E
Country
Indonesia

The toll

Damage
Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
Houses damaged
Many (101 to 1,000)

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.

1890, November 23. Intensity VII. Bandanaira: Maluku - damage to most of the houses and buildings. (reference #1188)

1890, November 23. Between 9h 50m and 10h 20m, a.m. Moluccas, Bandaneira in Amboina. Intensity I which corresponds to an earthquake of intensity sufficient to crack walls, break chimneys, to shatter old buildings or to produce cracks in the ground. (reference #1055)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 1890The 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 2403.