October 20, 1859 Tsunami: South of Java, Indonesia
A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at South of Java, Indonesia on October 20, 1859. Its effects were recorded at 1 place. It killed 2 people.
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
- October 20, 1859
- Source
- South of Java, Indonesia
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- The earthquake
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
- Source location
- 9.000° S, 111.000° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 2
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 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.
Reference #414:
On October 20, 1859 at 17;340 [local time] there was a strong underground shock, accompanied by a tsunami, at Patjitan (Java Island). The wave arrived precisely when the "Ottolina," which was riding in the roadstead, was getting ready to cast anchor. A sloop, loaded with anchor and chain, sank; of the crew of thirteen, 11 were saved.
Reference #132:
1859 Oct. 20. Java, south coast, Patjitan and vicinity. Strong wave.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patjitan, Java | Indonesia | 90 | Eyewitness observation of water height | 2 |
More
Every tsunami in 1859The 1800sTsunamis of IndonesiaThe earthquakeThis 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 892.