February 16, 1861 Tsunami: SW. Sumatra, Indonesia

Ref #414:

1861, Feb 16 about 19:00 [local Time], 1 S, 97.5 E, depth 70 km, magnitude 8.5 MS. There was an earthquake of exceptional strength and great duration, accompanied by a tsunami, on the entire western coast of Sumatra.

A seaquake was felt by the American ship "Humboldt" at the latitude of the Pagai Islands. At Singapore, the oscillations lasted 2 minutes; cases of sea sickness were observed. The earthquake...was felt at Dacca and caused seiches in ponds on the east of India. An unusual trembling of level, ascribed by A. Wagner to this earthquake, was noted at the Pulkovo astronomical observatory during observations of 16.II.1861.

At Ajerbangis, the sea became agitated during the earthquake. From time to time, the river dried up completely, and then the sea "rushed" on shore, advancing with great force. These oscillations in the level of the river repeated until noon on the 17th; the duration of one oscillation was 15 minutes.

At Pulu Tello, seven hundred residents drowned.

At Singkel, about 20 people died.

At Fort Laundi, on the south coast of Nias Island, about 50 people died.

At Gunugsitoli on the northeastern shore of Nias island, many local residents died.

Lapau island, to the north of Nias Island, was almost completely destroyed. Hundreds of residents died.

On the coast of Atjeh, the water rose 1 1/2 m. According to other sources, the entire coast of Atjeh was devastated as a result of a sudden invasion of the sea, which penetrated inland, uprooted trees, destroyed crops and homes, and in retreating carried off a multitude of residents. In Analaboo port alone, 135 people drowned.

Ref #42:

1861, Feb 16. Sumatra. A wave of great force reported from Anjer Bangis and the south coast of Pulau Nias and Padang. The Pulau Pulau Batu (Batu Islands 0ol0'S, 98o25'E) were inundated. The wave was noted by several vessels at sea, (Heck, 1947).

Ref #132:

1861, Feb 16. Sumatra. A tidal wave of great force at Anjer Bangis. Great wave on south coast of Nias Island. Batu Island inundated. Some damage at other islands. Strong at Padang. Wave noted by several vessels at sea.

Ref #1188:

1861, Feb 16. Tsunami was observed at Singkil, Nias and Tello.

Ref #8795:

This earthquake appears to have taken place between the trench and the islands of the trench slope break, since the tsunami devastated towns on the seaward side of the Batu Islands, and a town on the southwest shore of Nias experienced a tsunami height of 7 m. Evidence for coseismic uplift exists on the north and west coasts of Nias, where piers of rock and reefs became exposed; a small island became connected to Nias. On Java, more than 1400 km away, seiches were reported in six different bodies of water, and the quake was felt as far as 1600 km from Nias.

Ref #2725:

the disturbance in the Malacca Strait [...] in 1861 started 5 h prior to the occurrence of the earthquake. Thus, the evidence for tsunami hazard to the Malacca Strait associated with earthquakes off the Indian Ocean coast of Sumatra is not compelling.