August 23, 1936 Earthquake: Banda Aceh,lhok Sukon,lhoksemawe, Indonesia
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Banda Aceh,lhok Sukon,lhoksemawe, Indonesia on August 23, 1936 at 21:12:13 UTC. It killed 9 people.
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
- August 23, 1936
- Time
- 21:12:13 UTC
- Place
- Banda Aceh,lhok Sukon,lhoksemawe, Indonesia
- Magnitude
- 7.3 (Ms)
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 6.100° N, 94.700° E
- Country
- Indonesia
The toll
- Deaths
- 9
- Injuries
- 20
- 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.
1936, August 23. 6.1 N, 94.7 E. A quake was strongly felt at Banda Aceh, Lhok Sukon, Lhoksemawe and was followed by a number of aftershocks. Caused damage to buildings; as a result of the shocks 9 people said to have perished, 20 people were badly injured. (reference #1188)
1936, August 23, 21:12:13 UTC. 6 N, 95 E, magnitude 7.3, possible tsunami. (reference #96)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 6, 2016, Pidie Jaya, Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia
- October 22, 2013, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- January 21, 2013, N, Sumatera, Indonesia
- June 2, 1948, Off Northwest Coast, Indonesia
- April 4, 1983, Banda Aceh, Sumatera, Indonesia
- March 21, 1888, Breueh Island, Sumatera, Indonesia
- January 31, 1886, Koeta Radja (Atjeh), Indonesia
- July 8, 1922, Lhoknga, Aceh, Indonesia
- May 17, 1955, Little Nicobar Island, India
- December 14, 1885, Banda Atjeh, Indonesia
- November 25, 1935, Celebes Sea, Indonesia
- April 2, 1964, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- January 20, 1982, Little Nicobar Island, India
- May 9, 1949, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- September 29, 1837, Banda Atjeh, Indonesia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1936The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1936Recent 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 3582.