1799 Tsunami: SE. Sumatra, Indonesia
A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at SE. Sumatra, Indonesia in 1799. The water rose as high as 15 meters.
Where the waves reached
The source of the tsunami. No runup with a place is recorded for it.
- Under 1 m
- 1 to 3 m
- 3 to 10 m
- 10 to 30 m
- 30 m and more
- Height not recorded
The tsunami
- Date
- 1799
- Source
- SE. Sumatra, Indonesia
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Maximum water height
- 15 m (49.2 ft)
- Runups recorded
- 0
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Erroneous entry
- Source location
- 2.000° S, 101.000° E
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this tsunami.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Reference #414:
1799, no date. Sumatra Island. There was an earthquake and tsunami, about which the following reports are available. During the earthquake, a tidal wave rose along the coast, and reached a height of 15 m (50 feet) above the usual water level. A new reef was also formed, which became a danger for navigation. It was discovered by the ship "Bergen" on ll.XI.1799. The earthquake did considerable damage at Palembang. [Apparently, the date is not accurate and the description relates to the earthquake and tsunami of 10.11.1797.]
Reference #42:
1799. Sumatra. Wave about 50 feet above ordinary water level.
Reference #132:
1799. Sumatra. Wave about 50 feet above ordinary water level.
Reference #79:
1799. Sumatra. Wave about 50 feet above ordinary water level.
Reference #4659:
16 m tsunami runup height
Reference #4659:
15 m tsunami runup height
More
Every tsunami in 1799The 1700sTsunamis of IndonesiaAlerts in force
Sources
Tsunami events and runups 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 tsunami event 580.