1989 West Papua earthquake

1989 West Papua earthquake
Date August 1, 1989
Origin time 23:17 UTC
9:17 AEST
Duration 3 minutes
Magnitude 6.0 Mw
Epicenter 4°30′40″S 139°01′19″E / 4.511°S 139.022°ECoordinates: 4°30′40″S 139°01′19″E / 4.511°S 139.022°E[1]
Areas affected Indonesia
Casualties 120 dead
120 injured

The 1989 West Papua earthquake struck West Papua, Indonesia – then Irian Jaya province – on August 1.

Details and relief

The West Papua earthquake struck at 9:17 local time[2] and measured Ms 5.7[3] and 6.0 on the Richter scale.[4] Its epicenter was located 299 km (186 mi) south of Jayapura;[5] the earthquake reached as far as Wamena.[3] It lasted for roughly three minutes and caused multiple aftershocks.[5]

The earthquake killed 120 people and left 120 injured;[3] all of the dead were recovered from the villages of Holuon, Pasema, and Soba.[2] Many of these deaths and injuries derived from landslides that covered two villages and disrupted sections of the Baliem River, practically flooding three villages[6] and depositing tons of mud.[2] One of these landslides was 200 m (660 ft) tall;[6] there were eleven in total.[7] A large portion of the dead consisted of Dhani tribesmen.[5]

Local authorities distributed food, blankets, clothing, and money to survivors. Helicopters supplied food and other relief supplies,[5] but they were slowed by cracks in the local airstrips. More than 25 survivors were treated for severe injuries and another 100 for less grave maladies.[2] 200-300 people were evacuated in the aftermath of the tremor,[6][2] and following the earthquake 3,500 Hupla people were resettled at a lower altitude, thus moving them from their traditional settlements.[8]

Geology

The focal mechanism for the earthquake demonstrated reverse faulting.[3]

The region around the epicenter has a history of powerful earthquakes. Between two earthquakes in 1976 and 1981, 1000 people died.[5] There have been large earthquakes in the region as recently as 2009[9] and 2010.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Significant earthquake". National Geophysical Data Center. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Indonesian quake kills 90". The Hour. August 2, 1989.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Significant Earthquakes of the World: 1989". United States Geological Survey. January 5, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Today in Earthquake History: August 1". United States Geological Survey. October 2, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "Indonesian quake death toll rises". Lodi News-Sentinel. August 3, 1989.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Indonesia: Earthquake Aug 1989 UNDRO Information Report 1". ReliefWeb. August 4, 1989. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Death Toll Rises to 97 in Indonesia Quake". Los Angeles Times. August 5, 1989.
  8. ↑ Tapol, pg. 22.
  9. ↑ "Indonesia earthquake kills at least 2, injures 35". CNN. January 4, 2009. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Indonesian earthquake death toll climbs to 17". CNN. June 21, 2010. Retrieved August 2, 2013.

Sources