Tsunamis in 1930

June 19, 1930 Tsunami: South of Java, Indonesia

June 19, 1930 · 1.5 m · Probable tsunami

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6 earthquake began at South of Java, Indonesia on June 19, 1930 at 13:07:27 UTC. The water rose as high as 1.5 meters. 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
June 19, 1930, 13:07:27 UTC
Source
South of Java, Indonesia
Cause
Earthquake
Maximum water height
1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Runups recorded
1
Tsunami magnitude (Iida)
-0.5
Waters
Ocean
How certain
Probable tsunami
Source location
5.600° S, 105.300° 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.

June 19, 1930, 20:00 [local time]. Two strong shocks at 20 minute intervals in the region of Telukbetung were felt as far as Djakarta (Batqvia) (radius of perceptibility 300 km). There was no damage, but the residents in the vicinity of Telukbetung were terrified and ran screaming from their huts. The captain of a motor boat, tied up at a small moorage at Telukbetung, related that during calm weather with a smooth water surface, a roarlike remote artillery fire was heard. The ship began to vibrate extremely strongly 2 seconds later. In another 2 seconds, the water fell 1/2 m (2 feet), but then rose 1-1 1/2 m (4 feet); a strong ripple appeared on the surface of the sea. The roar and rocking recurred about 20 minutes later and again at 23:50 and 0:08. (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
Telukbetung, SumatraIndonesia171.5Eyewitness observation of water height

More

Every tsunami in 1930The 1900sTsunamis 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 1625.