March 30, 1963 Tsunami: Agung Volcano, Bali, Lesser Sunda, Indonesia
A tsunami caused by a volcano began at Agung Volcano, Bali, Lesser Sunda, Indonesia on March 30, 1963. Its effects were recorded at 2 places in at least 2 countries. It killed 1,028 people, counting the earthquake or eruption that caused it.
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 30, 1963
- Source
- Agung Volcano, Bali, Lesser Sunda, Indonesia
- Cause
- Volcano
- Volcano
- The eruption that caused it
- Runups recorded
- 2
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 2
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Questionable tsunami
- Source location
- 8.342° S, 115.508° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 1,028 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Injuries
- 624 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
The Agung Volcano began erupting in February and continued for almost a year. There was a major destructive event on March 17, and many more after that.
According to the "Prince Rupert Daily News" (Reference #3932) "A tidal wave 35 feet high hit Langara Island, northernmost point of the Queen Charlotte Islands, recently." The word "recently" referred to "last week." The article was dated April 1, 1963, and so the time frame would be from March 24-30. The prior week to this was March 17-23. Since the Pago Pago tide gage referenced a date of March 30, the Agung Volcano event is placed at this date.
The newspaper states: "The tidal wave is believed to have originated from disturbances which brought heavy damage and loss of life in volcano eruptions on the island of Bali."
A disturbance as reported from the Dixon Entrance region of the Queen Charlotte Islands during the night of March 30-31. The wave heights reached from 12 to 18 feet above high water and caused minor damage at Langara island, Wiah Point, and Port Simpson. The disturbance was not recorded on any tide gate and was not reported from any other area. No correlation between this event and any seismic or atmospheric disturbance has been found. (reference #45)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pago Pago, American Samoa, AS | US Territories | 8,054 | Tide gauge (half the maximum wave height) | ||||
| Queen Charlotte Islands: Langara Is, BC | Canada | 12,148 | Eyewitness observation of water height |
More
Every tsunami in 1963The 1900sTsunamis of IndonesiaThe eruptionThis 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 1942.