March 13, 1888 Tsunami: Ritter Island, Papua New Guinea

Ref #11882:

In 1888 a great tsunami generated by the collapse of Ritter Island volcano produced waves as high as 12 m and killed an known number of people on New Britain coast, including a German team of scientists and explorers.

Ref #414:

1888, March 13, early morning, validity 4. The Sakar (Ritter) Volcano exploded. The cone of this volcano formed the island of the same name and had a height of 790 m above the water. The bulk of the volcanic structure flew into the air; only the eastern third of the cone remained in the form of a slope 120 m high, arc-shaped in plan, with steep inner and outer walls. In place of the part of the volcano which disappeared, depths formed with marks of more than 100 m. The total mass of ejecta was estimated at 1 3/4 km3.

The explosion generated an enormous tidal wave, which was observed along the coast of New Guinea from Hatzfeldt Bay to Cape Huon (Salamoa Harbor), and along the entire coast of New Britain, including Rabaul. Many residents from coastal villages of Umboi island died in the flooding; villages on the north coast of the island were apparently in general washed away. No earthquake was recorded.

On the night of March 12 to 13, a small German expedition headed by Von Belov and Hunstein was situated on the western coast of New Britain Island, on a narrow beach on a steep cliff. The expedition was apparently washed away by tsunami waves, since two special groups sent to search could not find any traces of it, except for tent pegs. From marks left on the coastal slopes,the rise of water has been estimated at 12 m. In places it passed 1 km inland. The dense forest in the flood zone was completely destroyed, and the coast was washed over with sand and littered with tree trunks, bits of coral reef and dead fish; the thickness of the layer of detritus was 1.2 m (4 feet) the coast was substantially eroded in places.

Many residents from coastal villages of Umboi island died in the flooding; villages on the north coast of the island were apparently in general washed away.

According to newspaper reports, a small wave was observed at Arica (Chile) on March 14, at about 17:00, far at sea. It grew rapidly as it approached the shore and broke on the breakwater with great force. Soon another three large waves followed one after another. Many of the ships which were unloading were smashed and some capsized.

According to the journal "Nature," the record of the tide gauge at Sydney on March 15, 16 and 17 showed strange deviations from the regular shape of flood tides. These can apparently be considered as a tsunami.

(1888, May 20. Apparently, this is a mistaken date (Detaille, 1889) for the eruption and tsunami of March 13, 1888.)

Ref #99:

1888, March 13. All the coastal villages along the Dampier Strait, on the islands of Ruk and Tupinier were destroyed by the tidal waves. On the island of Ruk, a strongly marked area, 40 to 50 feet above sea level, was still recognizable two years later and marked the height of the tidal wave. The cause of the tidal wave was the explosion of the tiny volcanic Ritter Island in the vicinity of Ruk and Tupinier.

Ref #2682:

The principal effects of the catastrophe on 13 March 1888 were a large tsunami and the disappearance of a large part of Ritter Island. The cone collapsed without warning on 13 March 1888, probably in a single episode lasting no more than 30 minutes, causing a 12-15 m tsunami, and producing a caldera (average diameter about 2.5 km)

Ref #2990:

tsunami wiped out at least 10 villages on a adjacent islands (suggesting death toll of at least 1500, based on the typical population of 150 found in traditional villages throughout Papua New Guinea coastal areas)

Ref #1182:

3,000 killed. Note: this estimate does not appear in any other literature reviewed.