Banda Sea earthquake

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The Banda Sea Earthquake was an earthquake that occurred in the Banda Sea region, approximately 500 km from East Timor on March 2nd, 2005. Residents of Darwin felt the impact, despite the epicenter being located approximately 140 km away. Reports vary about the strength, with early estimates ranging from 7.2 to 7.5 on the Richter scale. The quake sparked fears of another tsunami on the already ravaged coasts of Indonesia, however this did not eventuate.

The Banda Sea quake of February 1, 1938, the ninth largest in the 20th century, registered a magnitude 8.5 on the Richter scale. It generated tsunamis up to 1.5 m but no human lives appear to have been lost.