December 12, 1992 Tsunami: Flores Sea, Indonesia

On December 12, 1992, a magnitude 7.5 Ms (USGS) earthquake at 05:29 UT occurred in the Flores, Indonesia, region producing a tsunami that reached shore in five minutes. The earthquake and tsunami caused at least 2,080 fatalities or missing people, including 1,490 in Maumere, Flores, and 700 on Babi Island. More than 500 were seriously injured and 90,000 were left homeless. The number of destroyed or damaged structures included 30,789 homes, 808 schools, 188 churches and mosques. Nineteen people were killed and 130 houses were destroyed on Kalootoa Island 120 km north of Flores Island. On Flores fifty to eighty percent of the buildings were damaged or destroyed including ninety percent of the buildings at Maumere. (reference #1315)

At least 2,500 people killed or missing in the Flores region, including 1,490 at Maumere and 700 on Babi. More than 500 people were injured and 90,000 were left homeless. Nineteen people killed and 130 houses destroyed on Kalootoa. Severe damage, with approximately 90 percent of the buildings destroyed at Maumere by the earthquake and tsunami; 50 to 80 percent of the structures on Flores were damaged or destroyed. Damage also occurred on Sumba and Alar. The tsunami on Flores ran inland as much as 300 meters with waves heights of 25 m. Landslides and ground cracks were reported at several locations on the island. (reference #1053)

According to the army, 2,100 persons died in total, of which 750 at Babi Island and 300 elsewhere. About 1,000 to 1,100 of these were lost by tsunami, while the other 1,000 by collapsing houses. And at least 69 missing and 2103 injured. Above 28,100 houses were completely or partially collapsed, and 785 schools were destroyed. The population of Sikka is 236,691, thus the total numbers of lost, missing and injured people is more than 1.3% of the population (data by the army, emergency report, team leader's report) as of December 25th. These numbers are estimated to increase as more data become available. (reference #12)

The field survey conducted in the aftermath of the tsunami [Tsuji et al., 1995a] documented several intriguing results: while it established a maximum run-up of 4-5 m on most of the Northern coast of Flores Island, it revealed catastrophic values of up to 26m at some localities (Rangrioko) in Northeastern Flores. Underwater surveys by Plafker [1997] showed that the latter resulted from submarine landslides triggered locally by the earthquake. (reference #3806)