Tsunamis in 1861

February 21, 1861 Tsunami: Wanaidjas, Indonesia

February 21, 1861 · An event that only caused a seiche

A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at Wanaidjas, Indonesia on February 21, 1861. Its effects were recorded at 1 place.

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

Tsunami warnings in force

The tsunami

Date
February 21, 1861
Source
Wanaidjas, Indonesia
Cause
Earthquake
Runups recorded
1
Waters
A lake or river, not the ocean
How certain
An event that only caused a seiche

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.

1861, February 21. There is an incorrect reference by Perrey

(1865 a) to oscillations in sea level at Wanaidjas, accompanying an earthquake. In fact, strong seiches occurred in a large lake as a result of the earthquake: the water rose 1 m, and then fell 3 m. (reference #414)

Every runup

Nearest the source first. Heights are above sea level at the time; a tide gauge reads half the wave’s full height.

WhereCountryKm from sourceWater height, mInland, mMeasured byFirst wave, UTCDeaths
WanaidjasIndonesia1Other

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 905.