March 3, 1871 Tsunami: Ruang, Indonesia

Ref #414:

1871, March 3. On Tahulandang Island, from about the middle of February the residents of the island began to feel underground shocks. On March 2, chunks of stone began to roll down from the top of Ruang Volcano, standing in the sea 300 m from the island. On the 3rd at about 20:00 [local time], an earthquake began suddenly, and at the same time a thunderous rumble "announced" the eruption of the volcano.

A few seconds later, an enormous wave surged onto the coast of Tahulandang Island. It penetrated 180 m inland, and destroyed all the huts and plantations in its path. At the center of Tahulandang (Buhias) settlement, a wave rose 25 m above the usual sea level, as was determined by an official who investigated the island on March 30-31, from objects which caught on some trees which survived the waves. Two more waves followed the first wave at very short intervals.

Of the fluorishing settlement, consisting of 75 homes, there remained only three huts on its northern margin. However, they were all heavily damaged, and only one remained suitable for habitation; in addition, all the outbuildings and utensils kept under the huts were washed off. All the other homes were overturned and smashed or washed away, including a well-built church with stone walls 0.5 m thick. Bits of masonry were scattered around for a distance of up to 100 m, so that only the remaining paved courtyard indicated the previous site of the church. The earth was furrowed with ditches, carved out by the retreating water. The trees were uprooted and strewn helter-skelter with debris of homes and various utensils. A small ship was tossed to the foot of the mountain. The plantations situated on the mountain side remained intact. Out of the 500 residents of the settlement, 277 died.

Other settlements on the western and southwestern shore of the island also suffered destruction (Bohoi, Tulusan, Haasi). In all, about 400 people died on the island.

Ref #40:

1871, March 3. Indonesia. Waves accompanied the eruption of Mount Ruang on Palau Ruang. "The top of the mountain had come down and had rolled into the sea" developing a sea wave 25 meters (82.0 feet) high which penetrated 180 meters (600 feet) inland on Palau Tahalandang. Three villages were destroyed and four hundred sixteen persons, including the local Raja were killed by the wave.

Ref #14379:

Historical records suggest that the tsunami occurred nearly simultaneously with the onset of the eruption, although the exact trigger remains uncertain. It has been proposed that the tsunami may have resulted from either a pyroclastic flow entering the sea or a large landslide.

[…] documented in the interview report of missionary pastor F. Kelling, who resided in Buhias, Tagulandang Island, during the 19th century […] described that the incoming tidal wave as a ‘white foaming wall, boiling, with terrifying force’ […] Reverend Kelling’s account states that the tsunami struck during the daytime, as he noted: ‘Fortunately, the disaster occurred during the day, while many people were in their gardens in the mountains, so only more than 450 human lives were mourned’ […] Another source of information comes from local residents, who recount the existence of a village named Walang Mabuhu, meaning 'the place of decay.' The name is believed to have originated from the many corpses that were pushed toward the foot of the hill during the tsunami. Residents also reported the presence of a large rock in the shallow waters near Buhias village, which is suspected to have emerged after the tsunami occurred […] This account serves as confirmation of previously documented reports that the tsunami impacted the areas of Buhias, Bahoi, Tulusan, and Haasi.

This preliminary study presents compelling evidence that a flank collapse on the northern side of Ruang Volcano was the primary trigger of the 1871 tsunami.