March 2007 Sumatra earthquakes

The March 2007 Sumatra earthquakes occurred near the northern end of Lake Singkarak in Sumatra, Indonesia, on March 6. The first shock in this earthquake doublet struck with a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe) and the second shock that arrived two hours later had a maximum Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong).[4][5]

March 2007 Sumatra earthquakes
March 2007 Sumatra earthquakes is located in Sumatra
March 2007 Sumatra earthquakes
March 2007 Sumatra earthquakes is located in Indonesia
March 2007 Sumatra earthquakes
UTC timeDoublet earthquake:    
 2007-03-06 03:49:38
 2007-03-06 05:49:25
ISC event 
 11691339
 11691369
USGS-ANSS 
 ComCat
 ComCat
Local dateMarch 6, 2007 (2007-03-06)
Local time 
 10:49 a.m. WIB
 12:49 p.m. WIB
Magnitude 
 6.4 Mwc[1]
 6.3 Mwc[2]
Epicenter0°29′N 100°30′E / 0.49°N 100.5°E / 0.49; 100.5
FaultGreat Sumatran Fault
TypeStrike-slip
Areas affectedIndonesia
Max. intensityA. MMI VIII (Severe)
B. MMI VI (Strong)
Casualties68 fatalities; over 460 serious injuries[3]
Map of the Great Sumatran Fault with labelled segments

Earthquakes

edit

The initial quake at 10:49 (03:49 UTC) measured 6.4 on the moment magnitude scale and the second quake at 12:49 (05:49 UTC) measured 6.3.[4][5] The earthquakes were felt as far away as Singapore and Malaysia, which prompted the evacuation of some buildings there.[6]

Effects

edit

Over 60 fatalities and 460 serious injuries have been reported, spread across many towns and regencies in West Sumatra.[3] Over 43,000 houses were damaged, with over 12,000 of those severely damaged.[7] The severe damage to other structures includes over 130 public facilities, 310 mosques, 60 government buildings, 370 schools, and 230 shops.[7] According to the governor of West Sumatra, Agam Regency is the worst affected area, though other areas including Solok Regency and Tanah Datar are also badly affected.[8] The total value of damage is estimated to be around 1.4 trillion Indonesian rupiah (US$160 million).[7]

Response

edit

A variety of local and international aid organizations have deployed to the region to assist victims. A number of countries have pledged aid, including the Netherlands (US$2.0 million), Sweden (US$1.0 million), Canada (US$0.21 million), Malaysia (US$0.16 million), United States (US$0.1 million) and Taiwan (US$0.06 million). The US AID has supplied them with all sorts of essentials like blankets, water, food and first aid kits.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ ANSS. "Sumatra 2007a". Comprehensive Catalog. U.S. Geological Survey.
  2. ^ ANSS. "Sumatra 2007b". Comprehensive Catalog. U.S. Geological Survey.
  3. ^ a b "Indonesia: Earthquakes West Sumatra Province OCHA Situation Report No. 6" (Press release). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 2007-03-16. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  4. ^ a b USGS. "M6.4 - southern Sumatra, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey.
  5. ^ a b USGS. "M6.3 - southern Sumatra, Indonesia". United States Geological Survey.
  6. ^ "Quakes kill 82 in Indonesia". The Age. 2007-03-06. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  7. ^ a b c "West Sumatra Earthquake, March 13, 2007 : 17.00 PM" (Press release). West Sumatra Provincial Government. 2007-03-13. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  8. ^ "Indonesia: Earthquakes West Sumatra Province OCHA Situation Report No. 5" (Press release). United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2007-03-14.

Further reading

edit
  • M. Nakano, H. Kumagai, S. Toda, R. Ando, T. Yamashina, H. Inoue, Sunarjo; Source model of an earthquake doublet that occurred in a pull-apart basin along the Sumatran fault, Indonesia, Geophysical Journal International, Volume 181, Issue 1, 1 April 2010, Pages 141–153, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2010.04511.x
  • Natawidjaja, D. H., Tohari, A., Subowo, E., Daryono, M.R. and Boen, T., 2007. Western Sumatra Earthquakes of March 6, 2007, EERI Special Earthquake Report, 1–8
edit