2016 Sumatra earthquake

Last updated
2016 Sumatra earthquake
2016 Sumatra earthquake shakemap.png
UTC  time2016-03-02 12:49:48
ISC  event 611461544
USGS-ANSS ComCat
Local date2 March 2016 (2016-03-02)
Local time7:49 p.m local time (UTC+7)
Magnitude7.8 Mw
Depth24 km (15 mi)
Epicenter 4°54′29″S94°16′30″E / 4.908°S 94.275°E / -4.908; 94.275
Areas affected Sumatra
Max. intensity V (Moderate) [1]
Tsunami0.54 m (1.8 ft) [2]
CasualtiesNone [3]

The 2016 Sumatra earthquake was a 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck on 2 March 2016 in the Indian Ocean, approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) southwest of Sumatra in Indonesia. [4] [5] [6] [7] Tsunami warnings were issued for Indonesia and Australia, [8] but were withdrawn two hours later. [9] There were no deaths directly related to the earthquake. [10]

Contents

Description

The United States Geological Survey stated that the earthquake struck Wednesday evening and had a magnitude of 7.8. Originally, the USGS gave the earthquake a magnitude of 8.2; this was later downgraded to 8.1, then 7.9, until the official magnitude was confirmed to be 7.8.[ citation needed ]

The earthquake was centered under the ocean at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). It was determined that the earthquake was a result of movement on a strike-slip fault, and was similar to the 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes. [11] The epicenter of the earthquake was approximately 805 kilometers (500 miles) southwest of Padang, the capital of the province of West Sumatra; [12] the closest inhabited land to the epicenter was the Mentawai Islands, also part of West Sumatra. [13] Tremors from the quake were felt as far away as Singapore and Malaysia, though no injuries were reported outside of Indonesia. [14] [15]

About three hours after the initial earthquake (around 11:00 p.m. local time), a second, less powerful earthquake struck about 242 kilometers (150 miles) northeast of the original epicenter. With a magnitude of 5.2 and a depth of 123 miles, it was determined that this aftershock did not pose a tsunami risk. [16]

Effect and aftermath

Initial reports of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami warnings caused many inhabitants of Sumatra and the surrounding regions to flee to higher ground. However, within several hours of the earthquake, the government of Indonesia had lifted all tsunami warnings for the area. Australian government organizations also lifted tsunami warnings put in effect for Cocos Island, Christmas Island, and parts of coastal mainland Australia. [17] The head of Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, Andi Eka Sakya, stated that the "potential for a tsunami" was "very small", due to the fact that the epicenter of the quake was not located along a major fault or subduction zone. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

The 2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake occurred on 28 March off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia. At least 915 people were killed, mostly on the island of Nias. The event caused panic in the region, which had already been devastated by the massive tsunami triggered by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, but this earthquake generated a relatively small tsunami that caused limited damage. It was the third most powerful earthquake since 1965 in Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Fukuoka earthquake</span> Earthquake in Japan

The Fukuoka earthquake struck Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan at 10:53 am JST on March 20, 2005, and lasted for approximately 1 minute. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) measured it as peaking at a magnitude of 7.0, whereas the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude of 6.6. The quake occurred along a previously unknown fault in the Genkai Sea, North of Fukuoka city, and the residents of Genkai Island were forced to evacuate as houses collapsed and landslides occurred in places. Investigations subsequent to the earthquake determined that the new fault was most likely an extension of the known Kego fault that runs through the centre of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">September 2007 Sumatra earthquakes</span> Earthquakes affecting Indonesia

The September 2007 Sumatra earthquakes were a series of megathrust earthquakes that struck the Sunda Trench off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, with three of magnitude 7 or greater. A series of tsunami bulletins was issued for the area. The most powerful of the series had a magnitude of 8.5, which makes it in the top 20 of the largest earthquakes ever recorded on a seismograph.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 Enggano earthquake</span> Earthquake affecting Indonesia

The 2000 Enggano earthquake struck at 23:28 local time on June 4, 2000 with a moment magnitude of 7.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). The event occurred off the coast of southern Sumatra, Indonesia near Enggano Island. There were more than 100 fatalities and up to 2,585 injuries. Over 730 aftershocks shook the area afterwards, one just eleven minutes after the mainshock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Sumatra earthquakes</span> Earthquake in Indonesia

The first of the 2009 Sumatra earthquakes occurred on 30 September off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia with a moment magnitude of 7.6 at 17:16:10 local time. The epicenter was 45 kilometres (28 mi) west-northwest of Padang, West Sumatra, and 220 kilometres (140 mi) southwest of Pekanbaru, Riau. Government and authorities confirmed 1,115 dead, 1,214 severely injured and 1,688 slightly injured. The most deaths occurred in the areas of Padang Pariaman (675), Padang (313), Agam (80) and Pariaman (37). In addition, around 135,000 houses were severely damaged, 65,000 houses were moderately damaged and 79,000 houses were slightly damaged. An estimated 250,000 families have been affected by the earthquake through the total or partial loss of their homes and livelihoods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Chile earthquake</span> Magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile on 27 February 2010

The 2010 Chile earthquake and tsunami occurred off the coast of central Chile on Saturday, 27 February at 03:34 local time, having a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale, with intense shaking lasting for about three minutes. It was felt strongly in six Chilean regions that together make up about 80 percent of the country's population. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) the cities experiencing the strongest shaking—VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale (MM)—were Concepción, Arauco, and Coronel. According to Chile's Seismological Service, Concepción experienced the strongest shaking at MM IX (Violent). The earthquake was felt in the capital Santiago at MM VII or MM VIII. Tremors were felt in many Argentine cities, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza, and La Rioja. Tremors were felt as far north as the city of Ica in southern Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">April 2010 Sumatra earthquake</span>

The April 2010 Sumatra earthquake occurred on April 7 at 5:15 AM local time with a moment magnitude of 7.8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of V (Moderate). The shock occurred near the Banyak Islands, off the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. A tsunami watch was issued according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu which was later canceled. A 40 cm surge was reported in the Banyak Islands an hour after the quake, along with 62 injuries. Power outages were reported throughout the province of North Sumatra as well as in Aceh. This quake is one in a sequence of large earthquakes along the Sunda megathrust in the 2000s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Mentawai earthquake and tsunami</span> 2010 Indonesian earthquake and tsunami

The 2010 Mentawai earthquake occurred with a moment magnitude of 7.8 on 25 October off the western coast of Sumatra at 21:42 local time. The earthquake occurred on the same fault that produced the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. It was widely felt across the provinces of Bengkulu and West Sumatra and resulted in a substantial localized tsunami that struck the Mentawai Islands.

The 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes were magnitude 8.6 and 8.2 Mw  undersea earthquakes that struck near the Indonesian province of Aceh on 11 April at 15:38 local time. Initially, authorities feared that the initial earthquake would cause a tsunami and warnings were issued across the Indian Ocean; however, these warnings were subsequently cancelled. These were unusually strong intraplate earthquakes and the largest strike-slip earthquake ever recorded.

The 2012 Haida Gwaii earthquake occurred just after 8:04 p.m. PDT on October 27. The shock had a moment magnitude of 7.8 and a maximum Mercalli Intensity of V (Moderate). The earthquake's epicentre was on Moresby Island of the Haida Gwaii archipelago. This was the second largest Canadian earthquake ever recorded by a seismometer, after the 1949 Queen Charlotte Islands earthquake, about 135 kilometres (84 mi) away. One person died due to a car crash related to the tsunami in Oahu, Hawaii.

On 2 July 2013, an earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sumatra on 2 July with a moment magnitude of 6.1 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). The strike-slip earthquake killed at least 43 people and injured more than 2,500 others in the province of Aceh where approximately 4,300 homes were damaged or destroyed.

The 2014 Iquique earthquake struck off the coast of Chile on 1 April, with a moment magnitude of 8.2, at 20:46 local time. The epicenter of the earthquake was approximately 95 kilometres (59 mi) northwest of Iquique. The mainshock was preceded by a number of moderate to large shocks and was followed by a large number of moderate to very large aftershocks, including a M7.7 event on 3 April. The megathrust earthquake triggered a tsunami of up to 2.11 metres (6.9 ft) that hit Iquique at 21:05 local time. Similar-sized tsunamis were also reported to have hit the coasts of Pisagua and Arica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Chiapas earthquake</span> 8.2 Mw earthquake and tsunami off of Mexico and Guatemala

The 2017 Chiapas earthquake struck at 23:49 CDT on 7 September in the Gulf of Tehuantepec off the southern coast of Mexico near the state of Chiapas, approximately 87 kilometres (54 mi) southwest of Pijijiapan, with a Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The moment magnitude was estimated to be Mw8.2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Gulf of Alaska earthquake</span> Earthquake in Gulf of Alaska

On January 23, 2018, at 00:31 AKST, an earthquake occurred in the Gulf of Alaska near Kodiak Island. The earthquake, measured at 7.9 on the Mw scale, was approximately 280 kilometers (170 mi) southeast of Kodiak and happened at a depth of 25 kilometers (16 mi).

An earthquake struck the Mexican state of Oaxaca at 10:29 local time on June 23, 2020, with a magnitude of 7.4 Mw. The epicenter was 19 miles (31 km) from San Miguel del Puerto and 7.5 miles (12.1 km) south-southwest of Santa María Zapotitlán. The quake was felt by an estimated 49 million people in Mexico and Guatemala, with some tremors felt as far away as 640 kilometers (400 mi). Thousands of houses in Oaxaca were damaged and 10 deaths were reported. A tsunami warning was issued for southern Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Solomon Islands earthquakes</span> Seismic events

On 9 December 2016 at 4:38 a.m. local time, the Solomon Islands region was rocked by an Mww 7.8 earthquake, centered 30 km off San Cristobal Island, about 61 km southwest of Kirakira, the capital of Makira-Ulawa Province. Initially registering magnitude 8.0, later downgraded to 7.8, the temblor prompted tsunami warnings that kept countries surrounding the Coral, Tasman and Solomon Sea on high alert, but was later cancelled. A large aftershock of magnitude 6.9 occurred shortly afterwards. This earthquake was largely felt, waking many residents who later ran to high ground for fears of a potential tsunami. The earthquake killed a child and affected some 34,000 people in Makira, South Malaita and Guadalcanal Island where many had lost their homes or had no access to basic needs. Earthquakes are common in this region, with little or no fatalities. This earthquake is tied with three other magnitude 7.8 earthquakes for the second largest earthquake of 2016. On 17 December, the Solomon Islands would be rattled again by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake, this time 54 km east of Taron, Papua New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Craig, Alaska earthquake</span> Earthquake in Alaska and British Columbia

The 2013 Craig, Alaska earthquake struck on January 5, at 12:58 am (UTC–7) near the city of Craig and Hydaburg, on Prince of Wales Island. The Mw 7.5 earthquake came nearly three months after an Mw  7.8 quake struck Haida Gwaii on October 28, in 2012. The quake prompted a regional tsunami warning to British Columbia and Alaska, but it was later cancelled. Due to the remote location of the quake, there were no reports of casualties or damage.

References

  1. "M7.8 - Southwest of Sumatra, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. 9 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  2. "M 7.8 in Southwest Of Sumatera, Indonesia on 02 Mar 2016 12:49 UTC". Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System .
  3. "Aftershocks rock Indonesia after massive quake, calls for calm". Reuters. March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  4. "POWERFUL QUAKE HITS OFF INDONESIA, TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED". ABC7. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  5. "M 7.8 - SOUTHWEST OF SUMATRA, INDONESIA - 2016-03-02 12:49:46 UTC". EMSC.
  6. "Massive quake off west Sumatra, tsunami warning issued". The Star. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  7. "Earthquake affects the coast of Indonesia". 24 Horas. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  8. Rhian Lubin, Sam Webb (2 March 2016). "Indonesia earthquake: Tsunami fears after massive 7.9 magnitude quake hits". The Mirror.
  9. "Powerful earthquake strikes near Indonesia". The Guardian. 2 March 2016.
  10. "DFA: No Pinoys hurt in Indonesia quake". The Manila Times. March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  11. "M7.8 - Southwest of Sumatra, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey. March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  12. "Indonesia Lifts Tsunami Warning After Powerful Earthquake". NBC News . 2 March 2016.
  13. "Indonesia Earthquake: Major quake strikes near West Sumatra, Indonesia". The Sydney Morning Herald. March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  14. "Sumatra quake: Tremors felt in Singapore; authorities urge calm". Archived from the original on 2016-09-12. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  15. Malaysians wary after 7.9-magnitude quake hits Sumatra | Malaysia | Malay Mail Online
  16. "Big Earthquake Strikes Off Indonesia; Little Damage Reported". The New York Times. March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
  17. "Indonesia earthquake off Sumatra measures 7.8". BBC. March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  18. "Massive earthquake strikes off Indonesia". CBS News. March 2, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.