April 11, 1967 Tsunami: Makassar Strait, Indonesia
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.5 earthquake began at Makassar Strait, Indonesia on April 11, 1967 at 05:09:12 UTC. Its effects were recorded at 2 places. It killed 71 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
- April 11, 1967, 05:09:12 UTC
- Source
- Makassar Strait, Indonesia
- Cause
- Earthquake
- Earthquake
- Magnitude 5.5, 33 km deep
- Runups recorded
- 2
- Tsunami intensity (Soloviev-Imamura)
- 1
- Tsunami magnitude (Iida)
- 1.6
- Waters
- Ocean
- How certain
- Probable tsunami
- Source location
- 3.700° S, 119.300° E
The toll
- Deaths
- 13; 71 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Injuries
- 100 with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million); Moderate (about $1 to $5 million) with the earthquake or eruption that caused it
- Houses destroyed
- Few (about 1 to 50); Some (about 51 to 100) 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.
Reference #414:
April 11, 1967, at 13:15 [local time], validity 2, there was a magnitude 5.5 earthquake on Sulawesi Island in the region of Tinambung and Madjene (3.3 S, 119.4 E, depth 20 km). 58 died and, 100 were injured on the coast of Mandar Bay. A tsunami arose and caused heavy material losses in coastal settlements. At Tinambung, according to accounts, the water suddenly retreated, and then rose to twice the height of regular flood tides. Thirteen fishermen drowned in boats riding at anchor near the mouth of the Tinambung River.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandar Bay | Indonesia | 29 | Eyewitness observation of water height | ||||
| Tinambung, Celebes, Sulawesi | Indonesia | 37 | Eyewitness observation of water height | 13 |
More
Every tsunami in 1967The 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 1987.