March 16, 1863 Tsunami: Java, Indonesia
A tsunami caused by an earthquake began at Java, Indonesia on March 16, 1863. 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
The tsunami
- Date
- March 16, 1863
- Source
- Java, Indonesia
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- The earthquake
- Runups recorded
- 1
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 0
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Very doubtful tsunami
- Source location
- 6.100° S, 106.700° E
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.
March 16, 1863, about 21:00. There was an earthquake on Java
Island. There were rather strong shocks at Lebak, moderate ones at Iljakurta (Batavin) and on Kapal Island in Djakarta Bay, and weak ones at Serang and Tjaringin. At the latter place, immediately before the earthquake itself, a tidal wave rolled on shore with a loud noise. (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.
| Where | Country | Km from source | Water height, m | Inland, m | Measured by | First wave, UTC | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tjaringin | Indonesia | 97 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1863The 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 927.