2009 West Papua earthquakes

Last updated
2009 West Papua earthquakes
Papua earthquake shakemap.jpg
Indonesia relief location map.jpg
Bullseye1.png
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 dateJanuary 4, 2009
Local time 
 A: 04:43
 B: 07:23
Magnitude 
 A: 7.6 Mw (GCMT) [1]
 B: 7.4 Mw (GCMT) [2]
Depth30 km (19 mi) [3]
Epicenter 0°24′50″S132°53′06″E / 0.414°S 132.885°E / -0.414; 132.885
Type Thrust [4]
Areas affected Indonesia
Max. intensityA:  MMI VI (Strong) [5]
B:  MMI VII (Very strong) [6]
Tsunami1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) [7]
Casualties4 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.

Contents

Earthquake

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]

Impact

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.

See also

References

  1. ISC-EHB Event 13989025 [ IRIS ].
  2. ISC-EHB Event 13989020 [ IRIS ].
  3. ISC-GEM Event 13989020 [ IRIS ].
  4. Poiata, Koketsu & Miyake 2010.
  5. ANSS: Papua 2009a, Shakemap .
  6. ANSS: Papua 2009b, Shakemap .
  7. Poiata, Koketsu & Miyake 2010.
  8. "Strong earthquakes hit Indonesia". BBC News. 4 January 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  9. Quiano, Kathy (4 January 2009). "Indonesia earthquake kills at least 2, injures 35". CNN. Retrieved 8 January 2022.