| | |
| UTC time | Doublet earthquake: |
|---|---|
| A: 2009-01-03 19:43:55 | |
| B: 2009-01-03 22:33:42 | |
| ISC event | |
| A: 13989025 | |
| B: 13989020 | |
| USGS-ANSS | |
| A: ComCat | |
| B: ComCat | |
| Local date | January 4, 2009 |
| Local time | |
| A: 04:43 | |
| B: 07:23 | |
| Magnitude | |
| A: 7.6 Mw (GCMT) [1] | |
| B: 7.4 Mw (GCMT) [2] | |
| Depth | 30 km (19 mi) [3] |
| Epicenter | 0°24′50″S132°53′06″E / 0.414°S 132.885°E |
| Type | Thrust [4] |
| Areas affected | Indonesia |
| Max. intensity | A: MMI VI (Strong) [5] B: MMI VII (Very strong) [6] |
| Tsunami | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) [7] |
| Casualties | 4 dead, dozens injured |
The 2009 West Papua earthquakes occurred on January 4 local time in Indonesia's Tambrauw Regency in Southwest Papua (then West Papua Province). The very large earthquake doublet comprised an initial moment magnitude (Mw ) 7.6 shock during which the shaking reached a maximum intensity of VI (Strong) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale and a second event measuring Mw 7.4 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very strong). The events took place less than three hours apart to the east-northeast of Sorong on the Bird's Head Peninsula and left at least four people dead and dozens injured.
There were twenty-three aftershocks above magnitude 5.0 and another at magnitude 6.0. The earthquakes were also felt in nearby Papua New Guinea and Darwin, Australia. [8] [9]
An official of World Vision International, a humanitarian aid organization, said ten buildings had been destroyed, including several hotels and the house of a government official. Officials said three people, who had been staying at the Mutiara hotel in the city of Manokwari, were pulled alive from the rubble and taken to a hospital. Two hotels collapsed in the quake.