Strong Earthquake Strikes Flores Sea, Indonesia

EDI-683F

M6.7 quake occurs 141km NNE of Palue, Indonesia

EQD:

Magnitude 6.7 mww
Location: 7.236°S 123.040°E
Depth: 549.2 km
Time: 2017-10-24 10:47:47 (UTC)

Source: USGS

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Banda Sea

Powerful Quake Measuring up to 7.3 Magnitude Strikes Banda Sea

A powerful earthquake measuring up to 7.3 Mw struck Banda Sea about 40 km WNW of Serua volcano and 65 km south of Manuk volcano, on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 14:41 UTC.

The quake occurred at 6.161°S, 130.346°E, some 230 km  NNW of Saumlaki, Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia, at a depth of about 140 km. It was followed by a moderate quake measuring up to 5.3 Mw, which struck at 6.749°S, 131.601°E, on Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 00:35:06 UTC.

On February 21, 1938, a large quake measuring M 8.5 struck about 185 km northeast of Saturday’s quake  at a depth of 25km.

FEWW Forecast:

Based on an analysis of seismic activity in the region, FEWW Moderators believe a large earthquake measuring up to M 8.6 could strike Banda Sea in the next 3 – 6 months. Additional events measuring 6.0 to 7.6 Mw could also be expected in the region, anytime.

See also Earthquake Forecast: Timor Sea

10-degree Map Centered at 5°S,130°E

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

Tsunami Warning:

This earthquake was located too deep inside the earth to generate a destructive tsunami in the Indian ocean, NOAA PTWC said.

Earthquake Details

• Magnitude:  [7.3 Mw – estimated by FEWW]
• Date-Time:
  • Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 14:40:44 UTC
  • Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 11:40:44 PM at epicenter
• Location: 6.161°S, 130.346°E
• Depth: 138.5 km (86.1 miles)
• Region: BANDA SEA
• Distances:
  • 230 km (145 miles) NNW of Saumlaki, Tanimbar Islands, Indonesia
  • 365 km (225 miles) SE of Ambon, Moluccas, Indonesia
  • 700 km (435 miles) N of DARWIN, Northern Territory, Australia
  • 2610 km (1620 miles) E of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia
• Location Uncertainty:  horizontal +/- 6.6 km (4.1 miles); depth +/- 9.2 km (5.7 miles)
• Source:USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID: us2009ndan

Population Exposure:

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. A magnitude 6.6 earthquake 360 km Northwest of this one struck Indonesia on March 12, 1983 (UTC), with estimated population exposures of 126,000 at intensity VII and 204,000 at intensity VI, with no reported fatalities. On June 17, 1987 (UTC), a magnitude 7.1 earthquake 82 km Northeast of this one struck Indonesia, with estimated population exposures of 1,000 at intensity VI and 82,000 at intensity V, with no reported fatalities. Source: USGS/EHP

Historic Seismicity

Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green

Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green

Related Links:

• Strong Quake Strikes Sunda Strait, Indonesia
• Recent Earthquakes ≥ 6.0 Mw
• Earth undergoing significant geophysical disturbances
• Powerful Earthquake Strikes Celebes Sea, S of Philippines
• Large Earthquakes Strike South Pacific
• Earthquakes: Human Enhanced Disasters – UPDATE 2 Oct 2009
• Another Strong Quake Hits Sumatra
• Disaster Update: Indonesia Quake
• Powerful Earthquake Strikes Southern Sumatra, Indonesia
• Samoa Tsunami Update
• Magnitude 8.3 Quake Strikes Samoa Islands Region
• Magnitude 6.8 EQ Strikes BANDA SEA

• Australia Fails to Plug Oil Leak in Timor Sea
• Deadly Earthquake Strikes Java, Indonesia [Includes FEWW Forecast]
• Earthquake Forecast: Timor Sea
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Magnitude 6.8 EQ Strikes BANDA SEA

Powerful Earthquake measuring 6.8Mw strikes Banda Sea

Magnitude 6.8 underwater earthquake struck Banda Sea about 200km SSE of Baubau, Sulawesi, Indonesia, at a depth of 633.2 km, on Friday, August 28, 2009 at 01:51 UTC, USGS/EHP reported.

10-degree Map Centered at 5°S,125°E

Earthquake Location Map. Original map: USGS EHP. Image upgraded by FEWW.

Details of this Earthquake

• Magnitude: 6.8
• Date-Time:
  • Friday, August 28, 2009 at 01:51:19 UTC
• Location: 7.117°S, 123.444°E
• Depth: 633.2 km
• Region:  BANDA SEA
• Distances
  • 200 km (125 miles) SSE of Baubau, Sulawesi, Indonesia
  • 275 km (170 miles) NE of Ende, Flores, Indonesia
  • 1005 km (620 miles) NW of DARWIN, Northern Territory, Australia
  • 1845 km (1150 miles) E of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia
• Location Uncertainty:  horizontal +/- 7.3 km (4.5 miles); depth +/- 13.1 km (8.1 miles)
• Parameters: NST= 69, Nph= 69, Dmin=470.3 km, Rmss=0.97 sec, Gp= 40°, M-type=teleseismic moment magnitude (Mw), Version=7
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID: us2009kwae

The earthquake occurred about 76km north of  Batu Tara Volcano, located on the tiny Island of  Pulau Komba in the Banda Sea.

Historic Seismicity (Mag 7+ since 1900)

Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green

Tsunami Report:

There was NO tsunami reported, possibly because the quake occurred at a depth  of more than 633km.

Related Links:

• Earthquake Forecast: Timor Sea
• FEWW Earthquake Links