April 11, 1967 Earthquake: Makassar Strait, Indonesia

Name: April 11, 1967 Earthquake: Makassar Strait, Indonesia
Start: 1967-04-11
Location: Makassar Strait, Indonesia

April 11, 1967 · M5.5 · 71 deaths

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Makassar Strait, Indonesia on April 11, 1967 at 05:09:12 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It killed 71 people, counting the tsunami it caused.

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: April 11, 1967
Time: 05:09:12 UTC
Place: Makassar Strait, Indonesia
Magnitude: 5.5 (Ms)
Focal depth: 33 km (21 mi)
Intensity: 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami: Yes: the tsunami it caused
Epicenter: 3.700° S, 119.300° E
Country: Indonesia

The toll

Deaths: 58; 71 with its tsunami and other effects
Injuries: 100
Damage: Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
Houses destroyed: Some (about 51 to 100)

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.

Reference #414:

1967, April 11, 13:15 [local time]. There was a magnitude 5.5 earthquake on Sulawesi Island in the region of Tinambung and Madjene (3.3 S, 119.4 E, depth 20 km). 58 died and, 100 were injured on the coast of Mandar Bay. A tsunami arose and caused heavy material losses in coastal settlements. At Tinambung, according to accounts, the water suddenly retreated, and then rose to twice the height of regular flood tides. Thirteen fishermen drowned in boats riding at anchor near the mouth of the Tinambung River.

USCGS: 11.IX; 5h09m12s; 3.3o S., 119.4o E.; 20 km; M=5.5.

Reference #45:

37 persons were killed, 51 injured, and 75,000 evacuated from the Polmas and Madjene areas. Property damage was widespread.

Reference #1039:

58 deaths.

Reference #79:

Magnitude 5, epicenter 3.3 S, 119.4 E

Reference #1188:

Magnitude 4.9, epicenter 3.7S, 119.3E

Reference #1398:

3.3 S 119.4 E, 20 km depth, Max Intensity VII-VIII

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1967 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1967 Recent earthquakes near here This 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 4396.