March 3, 1871 Eruption of Ruang

1871, March 3. 300-400 killed, 1 village completely destroyed, 75 houses destroyed at Bahhuas on Tagulandang Island by tsunami associated with partial collapse of lava dome. (reference #9675)

Reference #414:

1871, March 3. On Tahulandang Island, from about the middle of February the residents of the island began to feel underground shocks. On March 2, chunks of stone began to roll down from the top of Ruang Volcano, standing in the sea 300 m from the island. On the 3rd at about 20:00 [local time], an earthquake began suddenly, and at the same time a thunderous rumble "announced" the eruption of the volcano.

A few seconds later, an enormous wave surged onto the coast of Tahulandang Island. It penetrated 180 m inland, and destroyed all the huts and plantations in its path. At the center of Tahulandang (Buhias) settlement, a wave rose 25 m above the usual sea level, as was determined by an official who investigated the island on March 30-31, from objects which caught on some trees which survived the waves. Two more waves followed the first wave at very short intervals.

Of the fluorishing settlement, consisting of 75 homes, there remained only three huts on its northern margin. However, they were all heavily damaged, and only one remained suitable for habitation; in addition, all the outbuildings and utensils kept under the huts were washed off. All the other homes were overturned and smashed or washed away, including a well-built church with stone walls 0.5 m thick. Bits of masonry were scattered around for a distance of up to 100 m, so that only the remaining paved courtyard indicated the previous site of the church. The earth was furrowed with ditches, carved out by the retreating water. The trees were uprooted and strewn helter-skelter with debris of homes and various utensils. A small ship was tossed to the foot of the mountain. The plantations situated on the mountain side remained intact. Out of the 500 residents of the settlement, 277 died.

Other settlements on the western and southwestern shore of the island also suffered destruction (Bohoi, Tulusan, Haasi). In all, about 400 people died on the island.

All the plantations and in general all the vegetation on the slopes of the Ruang Volcano were also destroyed. From 20:00 on March 9 to 14:00 on the 10th, there was a recurrent eruption of the volcano; sand and stones were ejected. Then the eruption resumed on March 14 and continued until 3:00.