September 29, 1837 Tsunami: Banda Aceh, Indonesia
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake began at Banda Aceh, Indonesia on September 29, 1837. Its effects were recorded at 3 places in at least 2 countries.
Where the waves reached
The source (white) and every runup with a place, colored by the water height recorded there. A ring is a runup NCEI marks doubtful.
- 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
- September 29, 1837
- Source
- Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 7.3, 100 km deep
- Volcano
- The eruption that caused it
- Runups recorded
- 3
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 0.5
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
- Source location
- 5.500° N, 96.000° E
The toll
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
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:
1837, end of September, no date, 5.5 N, 96 E, magnitude 7.25. Penang Island and the northwestern coast of Sumatra. "Penang. The earthquake which occurred here two weeks ago was felt at the same time, with very great force, at Atjeh [and] along the entire coast of Pidie. In fact, a skipper, arriving on Wednesday, October 4th, brought stories about several eruptions [this refers to the eruptions of Peuetsagu Volcano] and earthquakes, occurring at Lhokseumawe and other places, especially at Banda Atjeh, where, according to the stories, an earthquake lasted seven days and did considerable damage (apparently at the end of September). There was a strong tidal wave at Singapore.
Reference #7995:
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Thursday 21 June 1838, India News - Earthquake at Penang.-About a quarter after two o'clock on Saturday last, the inhabitants of George Town were thrown into a state of consternation by the unusual occurrence of an earthquake on this island... The harbour did not appear to be agitated, and we are informed none of the shipping felt the shocks. With the exception of some slight rents in the Police and Land Offices, and a dwelling house on the north beach, we hear of no damage to any building-On the following Sunday, four other shocks were distinctly felt at several intervals, but they were very slight. A rather smart one is stated to have occurred between three and four o'clock yesterday morning and at day light, we could not help observing the unusual and great agitation and rise of the sea in the harbour, commencing with a very heavy squall from the northwest, which lasted upwards of an hour, and in which a pleasure boat belonging to the Officers of the 12th Regiment was driven from her anchors and went to pieces on the north beach.-P. W. Island Gazette, September 30.
Reference #1186:
Singapore: An earth tremor was felt in Singapore. A large wave broke on the sea-shore at Teluk-Ayer.
Every runup
Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penang Island | Malaysia | 480 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Teluk Ayer | Singapore | 990 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Singapore | Singapore | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1837The 1800sTsunamis of IndonesiaThe earthquakeThe eruptionThis day in weather historyAlerts 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 706.