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of 7–9 m (23–30 ft) swept into Labala and
Waiteba Bays. The landslide crown is situated at an elevation of 200 m (660 ft) near the village of Atakore on Bauraja Hill. This hill represents an ancient volcanic crater of the Iliwerung volcano, and is especially vulnerable to landslides after heavy downpour. Remnants of the landslide are still visible via satellite imagery. In some areas, the tsunami deposited up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) of sand on the affected villages.
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addition to homes being razed, several primary schools and markets were also in ruins. Many of the victims were buried in mass graves. Thousands of panicked inhabitants from nine villages on the island abandoned their homes citing fear after the disaster. Despite the local authorities' efforts, they could not stop the mass evacuations. These villagers fled to
Lewoleba in the central part of the island, causing housing concerns. A human body found inside a shark caught off
37:
205:, food and medical aid were quickly supplied to the region. The waves which destroyed the villages of Waiteba, Lebala and Bala struck when most of the population was asleep. In one area of the island, 60 bodies were discovered. On 23 July, the Indonesian military said the death toll could be between 650 and 750, though at the time, the death toll only stood at 155.
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said the tsunami occurred at 01:00 local time. The tsunami inundated up to 1.5 km (0.93 mi) inland, sweeping across four settlements. The total landslide volume was estimated at 50 × 10 m which originated from the volcano's eastern portion; one-third of the volcano fell into the sea. Waves
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Earlier reports suggested an eruption generated the tsunami which was ruled out as a translation mistake. The cause was later determined to be a landslide along a cape of the island's southern shore. This landslide may have been triggered by an earthquake of unknown magnitude recorded by a seismic
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The reported death toll rose to 539 the following day, though only 175 bodies were found by rescue workers. An additional 700 people were thought to be missing. Many of the estimated dead were people missing and presumed killed. Some people were also killed after being buried by the landslide. In
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News of the tsunami reached
Jakarta three days later due to the absence of well-established communication networks. The tsunami destroyed several settlements, some located 150 m (490 ft) inland. The lack of roads connecting the affected villages of Lembata made rescue works difficult.
237:. National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service: NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
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rather than a volcanic eruption. Estimates of the dead start at 539 while another 700 were reported missing. Many of the dead were never recovered.
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300:"Geothermal system as the cause of the 1979 landslide tsunami in Lembata Island, Indonesia"
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that swept along the island's coastal villages. The tsunami was triggered by a
443:[Waiteba Tsunami 18 July 1979, 539 Died and 700 People Disappeared.].
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470:[1979 Lembata Tsunami: Cause Not Earthquake, But Geothermal Heat].
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one week after the disaster may have been a tsunami victim. According to
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441:"Tsunami Waiteba 18 Juli 1979, 539 Meninggal dan 700 Orang Hilang"
263:
Paris, Raphaël (2015). "Source mechanisms of volcanic tsunamis".
468:"Tsunami Lembata 1979: Penyebabnya Bukan Gempa, tapi Panas Bumi"
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265:Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A
394:. The Canberra Times. 23 July 1979. p. 5
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552:. The Straits Times. 26 July 1979. p. 4
439:Wawo, Ricko (10 March 2024). Egy Moa (ed.).
420:. The Straits Times. 25 July 1979. p. 5
342:. The Straits Times. 22 July 1979. p. 1
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336:"154 killed, 23 hurt by giant tidal waves"
298:Yudhicara; Bani, P.; Darmawan, A. (2015).
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414:"Boy, 9, is lone survivor of tidal wave"
201:According to Ben Midol, the governor of
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494:"Tidal wave disaster: Toll is now 539"
183:on 18 July at 00:42. Local newspapers
500:. New Nation. 24 July 1979. p. 6
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546:"Tidal wave victim eaten by shark?"
150:On 18 July 1979, a portion of the
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608:Geography of Lesser Sunda Islands
526:. The Straits Times. 28 July 1979
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388:"Tidal wave toll 'could be 750'"
307:Indonesian Journal on Geoscience
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466:Firman, Tony (2 January 2019).
520:"Wave panic clears 9 villages"
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550:Reuters, Agence-France Presse
235:"Tsunami Event Information"
16:Tsunami affecting Indonesia
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418:United Press International
368:. New Nation. 21 July 1979
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613:July 1979 events in Asia
271:(2053). Royal Society.
174:Tsunami characteristics
603:1979 disasters in Asia
362:"Tidal wave kills 150"
277:10.1098/rsta.2014.0380
162:, triggering a deadly
583:Tsunamis in Indonesia
524:Agence-France Presse
498:Agence-France Presse
366:Agence-France Presse
20:1979 Lembata tsunami
158:collapsed into the
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203:East Nusa Tenggara
598:Volcanic tsunamis
578:1979 in Indonesia
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392:AAP-Reuters
215:Suara Karya
211:Rote Island
189:Suara Karya
154:volcano on
112:-8.6; 123.5
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85:Coordinates
79:, Indonesia
572:Categories
445:TribunNews
221:References
319:2355-9306
285:1471-2962
168:landslide
152:Iliwerung
43:Iliwerung
472:Tirto.ID
160:Savu Sea
98:123°30′E
77:Savu Sea
73:Location
556:29 June
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346:29 June
340:Reuters
248:29 June
164:tsunami
156:Lembata
141:Missing
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196:Impact
185:Kompas
181:Kupang
133:Deaths
95:8°36′S
65:01:00
303:(PDF)
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