January 1, 1996 Tsunami: Sulawesi, Indonesia

On January 1, 1996, a magnitude 7.6 Ms (Mw 7.9) (HRV) earthquake at 08:05 UT near Sulawesi, Indonesia, produced a 2.84-meter tsunami at the Village of Tonggolobibi which killed nine people, and injured 63. Tonggolobibi is located only 14 kilometers from the epicenter that was a back arc event with deep thrusting. The tsunami destroyed 183 houses and damaged 228 units in the Bangkir-Tolitoli area. It affected about 100 kilometers of the coast but there were no reports of tsunami data being recorded outside of Sulawesi. The land subsided by about one meter. It occurred at high tide. As the wave arrival times were very short, (about five minutes after the earthquake) and several sites reported an initial withdrawal, some of the wave action may have been due to tsunami induced landslides. Breaking waves were also reported at about half of the sites. Three waves were observed. The wave penetrated as much as 200 meters up riverbeds and carried five boats including two 500-ton motorboats 250 meters on shore. Since the tsunami occurred at a high tide of 59 cm, and there was a subsidence of the land of about 70 cm, it was difficult to estimate the wave heights. (reference #1315)

In the Donggala regency, the most heavily damaged area

was Tongglolbibi village which belongs to the Dempelas

Sojol district. The tsunami attacked the village about 5

minutes after the earthquake. The tsunami was reported to

runup 3-5m and extend about 300m inland. A house

drifted 10m from its original foundation, and two 500-ton

motor boats drifted 250m ashore. In total, 9 people were

killed, 163 buildings (mostly wooden houses) were heavily

damaged, and 102 buildings were slightly damaged. The

severe effects of the tsunami at Tonggolobibi village were

likely due to its location on a concave coastline facing

directly towards the epicentral area.

In the Buol Tolitoli regency, the most affected area was

Soni village which belongs to the Dampal Selatan district.

However, damage here is less than that at Tonggolobibi,

and no loss of life occurred. The tsunami was reported to

have a runup at Soni of 1.5m and extend 200m inland. In

total, 20 buildings (mostly wooden houses) were heavily

damaged, and 128 buildings were slightly damaged.

(above from reference #2262)

Media report nearly 400 wooden houses and government buildings damaged and 8 people killed by the tidal wave. (reference #120)

According to official reports, nine people were killed and 63 were injured in Tonggolobibi village by a 2 m high tsunami, more than 400 houses were destroyed and became unfit for living. The tsunami was of a local character and

the hit area was an approximately 100 km long coastline. (reference #1406)