The
Earthquake and Tsunami of October 10, 2002 in Irian Jaya, Indonesia
George
Pararas-Carayannis
 Introduction
A major
earthquake occurred about 90 km south of Manokwari in the remote
region of Indonesia's easternmost province of Irian Jaya. The
quake caused damage, a few deaths and generated a local tsunami.
Earthquake
The origin
date and time of the eartjhquake was 10:50:20 UTC, Oct 10, 2002
(7:50 PM local time in Indonesia).
The quake's magnitude was 7.6 and its epiecenter was at 1.71S
134.16E (USGS NEIC) near the northwest-striking Ransiki fault
- one of several major faults in the northwestern New Guinea
region. The quake was shallow with a focal depth at 10 km. A
two-mile long ground rupture was reported. Several large aftershocks
followed the main quake.
 Tectonic Setting
The tsunamigenic
earthquake occurred along a major fault in the northwestern New
Guinea region near the boundary where the Philippine Sea and
the Caroline tectonic plates interact with the Australian plate.
The focal
mechanism is consistent with the earthquake occurring as right-lateral
slip on a northwest-striking fault.
Source Mechanism
The focal mechanism is consistent with the earthquake occurring
as right-lateral slip on a northwest-striking fault.
Death Toll
and Damages
The earthquake
triggered extensive surface faulting, and landslides. Liquefaction
and subsidence damaged or destroyed many buidings and homes in
the Manokwari-Oranbari-Ransiki area. At least six people were
killed and 170 more were injured. More than 100 homes were damaged.
Damaging
Historical Earthquakes
Earthquakes and local tsunamis are quite common for this region
of Irian Jaya. In the past few decades, several earthquakes have
occurred. On 8 September 2002 a magnitude 7.6 earthquake occurred
about struck about 1000 km to the east. This quake killed at
least 6 people and generated a one meter tsunami that caused
extensive damage to homes on the nearby islands
On 12 September,
1979 an earthquake with magnitude 7.9 occurred about 190 km to
the east killing 15 people. Damage estimates for this quake ranged
from $5 to $25 million.
Another
quake with a magnitude of 6.3 occurred 330 km to the southeast
on September 9th, 1985, and killed at least 10 people.
A magnitude
6.3 quake, that injured 28 people, occurred 190 km to the east
on November 20th 1994.
Tsunami
 A
local tsunami was generated. The waves ranged in height from
3-5 meters along the coast of Manokwari, Oranbari and Ransiki.
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