June 2, 1994 Tsunami: South of Java, Indonesia

On June 2, 1994, a magnitude 7.2 Ms (Mw 7.8) (HRV) earthquake at 18:18 UT occurred south of Java, Indonesia. The earthquake was about 200 km off the southeastern coast of Java. The earthquake occurred at night, and awoke only about 10 to 20% of the people. About 30 to 40 minutes after the earthquake, the waves (three distinct waves) began to arrive. Most of the people were still sleeping when the wave arrived, and the mostly-straw houses were washed away.

About 223 people were killed, 15 were listed as missing, and 423 injured. The tsunami destroyed 1,500 homes, and 278 boats. The most affected districts were Lumajang, Jember, and Banyuwangi. Most of the fatalities and damage was caused by a tsunami at the villages of Pancer, Lampon, and Rajekwesi in the Banyuwangi district, the most eastern of the districts.

At Pancer, an important village situated on sand dunes of a river mouth into the bay, more than 70% of the 1,000 buildings were destroyed but only 4% (122 people) of the 3,000 inhabitants were killed, and 15 were missing. All of the straw houses were destroyed, and most of the brick buildings were severely damaged. The second wave was the largest and penetrated 300 meters inland. Palm trees

between the village and the sea helped to mitigate the wave damage although most were uprooted. The maximum runup height was 9.5 meters. The wave advanced up the river causing lateral flooding. One boat was carried 60 meters inland.

Lampon, the most eastern of the villages surveyed, had a population of 700 inhabitants before the tsunami. There were 35 fatalities and 40 straw houses destroyed some of which were 500 meters inland. The wave destroyed houses 500 meters inland. Most of the damage occurred near the river where there was significant erosion. The wave penetrated one km along the river. A maximum wave height of eleven meters was measured over a steep bank.

At Rajekwesi there were 1,200 inhabitants and 300 homes. Seventy percent of the homes were built with straw. There were 33 fatalities, 14 missing, and 70 homes destroyed. Eyewitnesses reported the first wave was about one meter high, and the second wave was six to seven meters high and had an inundation of 100 meters. There was large erosion of the beach and riverbank. Palm trees near the shore were uprooted. The straw houses were leveled, and all brick buildings were damaged.

At Watuula Village of about 600 inhabitants, 16 straw houses were destroyed, three fishermen were killed, and 30 boats were severely damaged. The wave reached a height of 7.58 meters.

At Pulo Merah there were eight fatalities and 20 houses were destroyed. Many others were severely damaged. The water penetrated about 700 meters inland, carrying fish, shellfish, and stones. At the village of Puger there was no tsunami damage although the third wave penetrated 300 meters inland, about the same extent as that of large storm waves. Six fishermen who were working on the open sea were missing.

At the village of Cape Pelindu, a small fishing village of about 300 inhabitants, the maximum wave was 3.2 meters. It destroyed three homes and the wall protecting the fishery. It penetrated 350 meters inland.

A witness on the island of Bambangan reported that a tsunami from this event measured 4.6 m and that two days later a second tsunami arrived.

(above from reference #1315)

Survivors of the tsunami said the waves hit unexpectedly but recounted they heard a roaring sound as the tsunami smashed ashore. At first they thought it was the sound of the wind until they were suddenly hit by the water. (Ref #6790)