May 17, 1892 Earthquake: Padangsidimpuan, Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia

Reference #414:

May 17, 1892 at 20:00 [local time, Ref #1186 lists 20:10] there was an earthquake with source off the coast of Sumatra Island, which affected all of Sumatra Island, the Malacca Peninsula and the western part of Java island.

The earthquake was strongest - up to 6 degrees (VII Rossi-Forel, [MMI VI]) - in the Padangsidimpuan [1.3667 N, 99.2667 E] - Lake Toba [2.35 N, 99.1 E] - Tandjungbalai [2.9667 N, 99.8 E] triangle. The tremors lasted from 1 to 5 minutes, according to different estimates.

1892, May 17. The strongest shocks and undulating oscillations of the ground were felt at Padangsidiumpuan. Three public buildings were heavily damaged, and the jail and the warden's home were so heavily damaged that they were unsuitable for further use. A mass of recurrent shocks were felt at night. According to boatmen from Lake Toba, a large house collapsed on its shore. The telegraph line from Bentan to Prapat was cut.

At Tandjungbalai, many homes were more or less damaged; some of them tilted to one side; fires broke out at two places; an unfinished home collapsed. One resident jumped out of a window in panic and broke a leg. There were no other victims from the earthquake. At Labuandeli, in the Chinese quarter, all the residents ran to the street in fright.

The earthquake was strong at Tandjungmorawa, Sungeibras, Bindjai, and in the region of Asahan. A rumble was heard at Qualamintjirim. At Tandjungpura and Tebingtinggi, the tremors had a force of 5 degrees (VI); some residents felt symptoms of sea sickness; lamps swayed strongly. At Medan, the earthquake began with barely perceptible oscillations; their intensity slowly increased and then diminished again.

Very perceptible, but not destructive tremors spread to Stabatestat, Klamberlima, Berapi (Natal region), Padang and Mukomuko. The earthquake was felt at Tandjungkalean, Palembang and Djambi.

On Penang Island, the residents ran out of one home in panic. At Singapore, there was widespread panic, and people crowded onto the street. Tall houses swayed from top to bottom. Wooden bungalows shook, the door posts were warped. The force of tremors first gradually rose, and then gradually decreased.

A very weak earthquake was felt at Djakarta (Batavia) and Indramaju.

A strong surf was observed in the rivers on the eastern coast of Sumatra Island.