April 30, 1885 Tsunami: Moluccas Islands, Indonesia

Reference #414:

1885, April 30, a few minutes before 13:00. There was an eruption on the Maluku Islands. It was accompanied by numerous aftershocks.

At Kaejli, on Buru Island, shocks lasting 50 seconds were so strong that portable lamps and other objects were overturned. At Ambon, on Haruku Island, and at Wahai, there were rather strong tremors lasting 20-30 seconds. There was an earthquake on Saparua Island. There were tremors lasting 15 seconds on Ternate Island; lamps rocked heavily; windows left ajar opened in some homes. At Bandaneira, there was a strong shock lasting 6 seconds.

Half an hour after the earthquake, the coastal village of Djikomuresa, situated 28 km (15 miles) west of Kajeli, at a height of 0.75 in above sea level, was inundated by the sea three times. The movements of the water were regular with a period of about 20 minutes. The sea retreated about 300 m beyond the lowest low tide mark, and then flooded by 1.2 m a plain 800 m long and 50 m wide, on which was situated a village, right up to the slopes of the coastal mountains. Three out of the 46 homes of the settlement were destroyed, and a large number of proas riding at anchor were tossed onto the foot of the mountains. The residents escaped, but the material losses were considerable. In the rest of Kaejli Bay, the sea supposedly maintained its usual level.

At Wahai, at about 14:00, the sea rose 0.3 m and washed away the boats lying on the shore, The rise in level, gradually abating, continued until 17:00.