July 18, 1979 Tsunami: Lomblen Island [lembata], Indonesia

1979, July 18. A strong tsunami occurred in Indonesia. According to the preliminary data, a tsunami with a height of 7-9 m was observed on Lomblen island (8o S., Lat, 123o 30' W. Long). In four villages 539 people lost their lives and 700 were declared missing. Water covered the land to a distance of 1,500 m. The possible reasons for the generation of the tsunami were the eruption of a volcano, a landslide, or the falling of part of the mountain peak, into the sea. An earthquake is ruled out. At first it was erroneously thought that the tsunami was generated by a volcanic eruption. This misperception was due to an incorrect translation from the Indonesian language.

It was later concluded that the cause of the tsunami was a landslide on one of the capes on the southern coast of Lomblen Island. The settlements of Waiteba, located at the neck of the cape on the eastern side of the cape, and Labala-Mulang on the western side suffered the most. The tsunami started with the sea receding from the coast and then returned with tremendous force. Mainly villagers rather than fishermen suffered.

(above from reference 417)

1979, July 18. Sources from the daily newspapers "Kompas" and "Suara Karya" of Indonesia stated that the tsunami waves that occurred on July 18, 1979 at approximately 1:00 A.M. (local time) in Indonesia swept up the coastal area 500 meters inland and over hills that were 10 meters high. The tsunami originated from an area which is at 8 deg 32 min S - 123 deg 30 min E, on the southern coast of Lembata Island.

The waves deposited 2 meters thick of sand on coastal settlements. A total of 187 persons were killed, most of them found buried under the sand, 32 persons were seriously injured, and 364 persons were missing. The 3 villages (Labala, Waiteba and Bobu), with population totalling 3,422, were completely obliterated. According to the Smithsonian Institution's SEAN Bulletin of July 31, 1979, the meteorology and geophysics station at Kupang recorded an earthquake of undetermined magnitude at 00:42 local time on 18 July, located in the Sawu Sea (south of Lomblen). Light rocks, dead fishes, and oil film were found floating on the coastal waters, days after the tsunami. The coastline shifted 20 meters inland. The sites where a school, a health centre and a government building were located, are now under the sea. (Reference #3330)

1979, July 17 [18]. A tsunami generated by a landslide struck the south coast of Lomblen Island, Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia. The landslide, which occurred on the south coast of Lembata Island,was possibly triggered by a small earthquake in the Sawu Sea. Four villages on Lomblen were destroyed with 187 killed and 364 missing. (Reference #45)