Article
Preserving the Story of 1995 Tsunami in Dili, Timor-Leste
Tsunamis can be devastating for the coasts and their communities, often resulting in lasting and damaging effects on marine ecosystems and coastal landscape, causing long-term coastal erosion. On May 14, 1995, a magnitude 6.9 Mw earthquake occurred at 08:33 pm (11:33 UTC) in the Flores Sea. Eleven people were missing and 19 injured. A 1.5-meter tsunami caused considerable damage in the Dili area and Maliana region, destroying several homes, damaging 40 fishing boats, and letting hundreds of cattle missing.
We were praying when we felt the earth shaking that night. I was 21 years and lived next to the Marinir village where the tsunami happened. It was a fishermen village with boats on the beach, several huts, and a lot of cattle. After the shaking stopped, we tried to go to the coast, as my brother, Avril Soares, was there. It was strange, the sea water seemed to be closer than it used to be, however we could not see anything clearly. As the sun rose, we couldn't see anything on the beach. No boats, no cattle, not huts. We only saw the top of a coconut tree in the sea. Nine villagers died, including my brother.
We were on the beach with four of my friends. I went away to get a meal while my friends stayed at the beach. After the earthquake I went back to the beach, but everything was gone, including my friends. That time (1995) we did not know anything about tsunamis. After the earthquake the beach collapsed and the sea water filled in. It is not like the wave rose and people could run away; the sea water just filled in the land that was gone.
Timor-Leste is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area with a high degree of tectonic activity with the constant risk of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis.
The tsunami preparedness activity is funded through the IOTIC-BMKG programme with the objective to document and communicate the effects of past tsunamis, and ensure that the information is available to the public through public awareness, education, and preparedness based on real events. The IOTIC-BMKG programme has documented 319 eyewitnesses and survivors’ stories of 7 past tsunamis (1945 Makran Tsunami; 1950 Ambon Tsunami; Central Sulawesi Tsunamis (1938, 1968, and 2018); 1992 Flores Tsunami; 1994 Banyuwangi Tsunami; 1996 Biak Tsunami, and 2000 Banggai Tsunami). Public education booklets have been produced, making the stories available online.
