Strong Quake Strikes Sunda Strait, Indonesia

Strong Quake Measuring up to 6.4 Mw Strikes Sunda Strait, Indonesia

Strong earthquake measuring about 6.4 Mw struck Sunda Strait about 180 km WSW of JAKARTA, island of Java, Indonesia, at a depth of about 55km on Friday, October 16, 2009 at 09:53 UTC.

Some buildings  in the capital, Jakarta, were reported as swaying by the officials. So far there are no reports damage or casualties. A magnitude 7.9 quake, which struck southern Sumatra on September 30, left up to 1,200 people dead.

The quake shook buildings as far away as Jakarta, causing some people to leave their homes and offices. (Photo: Amee Enriquez, JG). Image may be subject to copyright.

Earthquake Details:

GFZ Potsdam – Earthquake Bulletin
Region: Sunda Strait, Indonesia
Time: 2009-10-16 09:52:55.9 UTC
Magnitude: 6.2  [Maximum quake magnitude estimated by FEWW at 6.4Mw]
Epicenter: 105.45°E 6.47°S
Depth: 64 km
Status: automatic

10-degree Map Centered at 5°S,105°E

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Enhanced by FEWW.

USGS/EHP Release

• Magnitude: 6.1 [Maximum quake magnitude estimated by FEWW at 6.4Mw]
• Date-Time:
  • Friday, October 16, 2009 at 09:52:52 UTC
  • Friday, October 16, 2009 at 04:52:52 PM at epicenter
• Location: 6.613°S, 105.182°E
• Depth: 50.6 km (31.4 miles)
• Region: SUNDA STRAIT, INDONESIA
• Distances:
  • 125 km (80 miles) S of T.-Telukbetung, Sumatra, Indonesia
  • 180 km (115 miles) WSW of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia
  • 185 km (115 miles) W of Sukabumi, Java, Indonesia
  • 265 km (165 miles) W of Bandung, Java, Indonesia
• Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 6.3 km (3.9 miles); depth +/- 8.8 km (5.5 miles)
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID:  us2009mva4

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LUPIT: The Mercy Storm?

FEWW Forecast appears at bottom of page!

LUPIT Races West Toward Philippines and Taiwan

Would Lupit avoid Luzon, or will it be the storm that drove the island closer to edge of collapse?

Just weeks after storm Ketsana left its deadly legacy, and days after Typhoon Parma worsened the misery, storm Lupit, forecast to be a typhoon, is racing west towards the islands of Luzon and Taiwan.

At 21:00UTC on October 15, tropical storm  LUPIT (22w)  was located  near 12.8N, 137.9E or about 315 km north of Yap moving west along the southern periphery of the Subtropical Ridge (STR) at about 33km/h.

Storm Lupit races west. MTSAT – Visible Image – Still Frame. Click image to enhance and update.

LUPITis expected to intensify steadily as it continues through the Philippine Sea because the environment is forecast to remain favorable, “characterized by minimal vertical wind shear, good radial outflow and high ocean heat content,” JTWC reported.

It is forecast to move West Northwest at reduced speeds of about 26 kph. Intertropical Convergence Zone (itcz) will affect Southern Luzon and Visayas, PAGASA reported.

Lupit expected to generate maximum significant wave height of 5 meters.

How much would storm Lupit affect Luzon, Philippines? MTSAT – IR CH1 – Still Frame. Click image to enhance and update.

Cyclone LUPIT Projected track. Solid centers represent wind forces stronger than 117km/h. Source: JTWC.

FEWW Forecast: Moderators believe if Cyclone LUPIT were to merge with [feed on] the “storm placenta” to its south (encircled on the image), it could probably

1. Reorganize, strengthening  into a super typhoon.
2. Alter its projected course, moving toward a westerly direction and targeting southern Luzon.

Satellite Loops/Animation

• Tropical West Pacific – Infrared
• Tropical West Pacific – Enhanced IR
• Tropical West Pacific – Water Vapor
• Tropical West Pacific – Visible

• Northwest Pacific – Water Vapor
• Northwest Pacific – Visible
• Northwest Pacific – Visible (Colorized)
• Northwest Pacific – Infrared
• Northwest Pacific – IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)

• West Pacific – Water Vapor
• West Pacific – Visible
• West Pacific – Visible (Colorized)
• West Pacific – Infrared
• West Pacific – IR (Aviation Color Enhancement)

Other Satellite Images:

• FEWW Satellite Imagery

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• Earth undergoing significant geophysical disturbances
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