June 5, 1861 Tsunami: Java, Indonesia
A tsunami of unknown cause began at Java, Indonesia on June 5, 1861. Its effects were recorded at 2 places.
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
- June 5, 1861
- Source
- Java, Indonesia
- Cause
- Unknown
- Runups recorded
- 2
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 1
- Tsunami magnitude (Iida)
- 1
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
- Source location
- 6.300° S, 107.300° E
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
- Houses damaged
- 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.
1861, June 5, about 8:00 [local time]. On the coast off Pakis (Java Island), in the mouth of the Tarum River, a tidal wave fell with force, causing oscillations of the water level in the river. Several bamboo huts were more or less damaged. (reference #414)
1861, June 5. Indonesia, Java, Krawang (06o18'S, 107o17'E), and Pakis (05o58'S, 107o07'E). Wave of great force. (reference #40)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krawang, Java | Indonesia | 2 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Pakis, Java | Indonesia | 42 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1861The 1800sTsunamis of IndonesiaThis 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 912.