Deadly Earthquake Strikes Java, Indonesia

Powerful earthquake measuring at least 7.3 Mw strikes off the coast of Java, Indonesia.

FEWW ‘EarthModel’ estimated the magnitude as 7.6 Mw, while the quake was recorded by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center as a magnitude 7.3Mw (±0.4 )

More than 20 people have been killed according to the initial reports, with  hundreds of structures destroyed or damaged in the city of Tasikmalaya and town of Sukabumi west of Java. Thousands of people have been evacuated, taking refuge in open areas, including the grounds of a military base.

Dozens more people were injured, including up to 50 people in Jakarta, about 190km from the epicenter, officials said.

Magnitude 7.6Mw destroyed or damaged many buildings in the city of Tasikmalaya west of the island of Java. Photo: AFP. Image may be subject to copyright.

The quake struck offshore, with the epicenter about 115km west-southwest of Tasikmalaya city (190 km SSE of the Capital Jakarta), at a depth of about 60 km.

The mainshock was followed by at least 4 aftershocks, with 2 of the shocks measuring 5.6 and  5.2. Local tsunami warnings automatically issued after the quake have now been withdrawn. Local seismologists reported small  sea levels rises near the west coast of Java.

Summary of Earthquake details as reported by
European-Mediterranean Seismological Center

Magnitude:  7.3 Mw (±0.4 )
Region:  JAVA, INDONESIA

Date and time: 2009-09-02 at 07:55:03.8 UTC
Location: 7.84 S ; 107.35 E
Depth: 70 km
Distances:

• 91 km S Banjaran (pop 164,952 ; local time 14:55 2009-09-02)
• 72 km S Banjar (pop 37,263 ; local time 14:55 2009-09-02

Automatic GEOFON Global Seismic Monitor

© Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum – GFZ

GFZ Potsdam – Earthquake Bulletin

• Region: Java, Indonesia
• Time: 2009-09-02 07:55:02.7 UTC
• Magnitude: 7.4
• Epicenter: 107.34°E 8.00°S
• Depth: 62 km
• Status: manually revised

USGS/EHP
In line with their current practice of downsizing nearly all their EQ reports in 2009, USGS Earthquake Hazard Program downgraded the quake to a magnitude 7.0 Mw.

FEWW Earthquake Forecast For Java/Bali Region:

• Region: Java/Bali, Indonesia
• Date of Occurrence: September to Late December 2009
• Magnitude: 8.4+
• Epicenter: 10°40’31.43″S 114°55’33.81″E
• Depth: 40 km

Related Links:

• Magnitude 6.8 EQ Strikes BANDA SEA
• Earthquake Forecast: Timor Sea
• Australian Oil Disaster May Get a Lot Worse
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Earthquake Forecast: Timor Sea

A Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Could Strike Timor Sea Region

FEWW Moderators believe that a powerful 7.4 Mw earthquake followed by a large cluster of aftreshocks may strike Timor Sea Region anytime.

Map of the FEWW quake forecast in Timor Sea. Original map: Google Earth. Image may be subject to copyright.

Details of FEWW Earthquake Forecast

• Magnitude: 7.4 or greater
• Estimated Date:  November 30, 2009 [Uncertainty:  T±90 days]
• Epicenter: 11°34’23.78″S,  124°45’28.10″E
• Location: Timor Sea
• Depth: 27km [Uncertainty: +/- 6.8km]
• Distances:
  • 109 km NW of Challis Oil Field (See Australian Oil Disaster May Get a Lot Worse)

• • 160km South of the southern coast of West Timor, province of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
  • 190 km ENE of Ashmore Island [Ashmore and Cartier Islands]
  • 203 km NW Kupang, West Timor
  • 281 km NNW of Troughton Island, North Kimberly Coast, NW Australia
  • 666 km WNW of Darwin Australia

• Horizontal Uncertainty: radius of about 60 km from the forecast epicenter

• Probability of Occurrence: 0.7 (72%)

Note: This forecast does NOT preclude the possibility of other seismic events in the area at any time.

Related Links:

• Australian Oil Disaster May Get a Lot Worse
• FEWW Earthquake Links