The cause of earthquakes in Indonesia. Their intensity and repeatability

The territory of Indonesia is characterized by very frequent manifestations of the activity of the earth's crust and tsunami. What is the reason for the recurrence of earthquakes and tsunamis? How often do they occur? Can they be prevented and predicted?

The reason for the frequent earthquakes in Indonesia

Indonesia is located at the junction of three lithospheric plates - the Pacific, Eurasian and Indian. The Pacific plate is the most active of all, it moves all the time and seeks to dive under the Eurasian plate . The zone of immersion of one plate under the second on the Earth's surface forms a seismic belt that stretches from Alaska to New Zealand, and which includes the territory of Indonesia.

The intensity and frequency of earthquakes in the country are also associated with the Sumatrinsky Fault, which lies parallel to the coast of Indonesia. This is a seismically active zone in which tremors are constantly recorded. Seismologists record about 5 thousand earthquakes annually, their magnitude is higher than 4.0 points. In Indonesia, due to the presence of a fault, the epicenters of earthquakes are located in close proximity to the coast, which provokes the occurrence of tsunamis, which lead to deaths and destruction.

Earthquakes in Indonesia

Earthquake Repeatability in the Region

Since the beginning of the XIX century, more than 100 earthquakes have been recorded in Indonesia, but the first written data were about tremors that occurred on February 1, 1938 off the coast of Indonesia, their strength was 8.5 points. The tsunami hit the islands of Kai and Banda.

From 1955 to 1995, 11 earthquakes in the region were known:

  • November 26, 1959 - magnitude 6.5 points;
  • October 10, 1974 - 6.6;
  • October 1, 1975 - 2 earthquakes of 6.8 and 7.1 points;
  • November 18, 1977 - 6.6;
  • June 24, 1978 - 6.5;
  • January 11, 1979 - 6.6;
  • October 8, 1980 - 6.5;
  • December 27, 1985 - 6.6;
  • January 21, 1994 - 6.6;
  • November 5, 1995 - 7.2.

The most devastating earthquakes in the region

One of the most terrible and catastrophic earthquakes in the region in 2004, its strength reached 9.2 points. In time, it lasted about two days and was accompanied by powerful tsunamis. In 14 countries, 235 thousand people died from this natural disaster. About ten thousand people were injured, Indonesia suffered the most.

earthquake in indonesia now

In 2005, seismic activity was observed off the coast of Sumatra, killing more than 900 people.

In May 2008, there was a strong earthquake off the coast of Java, about 6 thousand were killed, 124 thousand were injured, 650 thousand were left without housing.

At the end of September 2009, a whole series of powerful earthquakes (magnitude more than 7 points) in the west of Sumatra Island followed, more than a thousand people became victims, about 265 thousand buildings and structures were damaged.

earthquake in indonesia

December 23, 2009 recorded 2 earthquakes - 6.2 and 5.4 points, there were no casualties.

In October 2010, an earthquake in Indonesia with a magnitude of 7.3 was recorded. The earthquake caused a tsunami. The waves reached a height of 15 meters, as a result of the disaster, about 6 villages were destroyed, more than 500 people died.

On October 25, 2010, seismic activity was recorded off the coast of Indonesia with a capacity of 7.6 points, after some time repeated shocks followed, the strength of which was from 5.1 to 6.3 points.

On September 6, 2011, a strong earthquake of magnitude 6.4 was recorded in southwestern Indonesia. Several people died.

April 2012 - an earthquake in Indonesia off the northwest coast of the island of Sumatra, power 8.6 points. After several hours, repeated shocks occurred, with an amplitude of 8.2 points. After a while, a second push followed, the amplitude of which was 11 points. This is one of the most powerful in-plate earthquakes in amplitude, but despite considerable strength, only 5 people became victims of the earthquake.

Beginning of December 2016 - the crust activated on the island of Sumatra , tremors were magnitude more than 6.4 points. Killed 97 people.

earthquake in indonesia today

In 2017, from January to August, 6 earthquakes occurred, the amplitude of which was more than 5 points.

On August 13, 2017, tremors occurred in Indonesia, with a capacity of 6.2 points.

Are earthquakes possible in Indonesia today

The probability of occurrence of tremors in the region always exists, they can occur every second. In addition, after each earthquake repeated shocks occur, which last about 6 months. Each earthquake is individual. One is accompanied by repeated shocks, the other provokes a tsunami. Both natural disasters in the region are disastrous and cause enormous damage to people and lead to human casualties.

Earthquakes are very difficult to predict. It is possible to predict the approximate place of seismic activity and the approximate time, but it is impossible to say the exact week, date, time and exact place. An earthquake is a sudden natural disaster that cannot be predicted and prevented, and right now in Indonesia, an earthquake can wipe entire villages off the face of the earth and claim tens of thousands of human lives.

Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/C10566/


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