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
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