Indonesia: Earthquake - Feb 1996

A strong earthquake hit Irian Jaya, Eastern Indonesia, on 17 February 1996 at 14:59 hrs local time (5:59 hrs GMT). According to the Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG), the earthquake measured 7.0 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was located in the Pacific Ocean, approx. 110 km east of Biak (or approx. 400 km northwest of Jayapura) at latitude 01.10 degrees south and longitude 137.15 degrees east, depth 33 km. The tremor was felt in Biak, Sarmi, Manokwari and Serui and triggered tidal waves. A series of aftershocks with magnitude 4 to 5 on the Richter scale shook part of Irian Jaya on Sunday, 18 February. The district of Biak is located on an island (off the north coast of Irian Jaya) which has a total population of 82,424. The worst affected area is the sub-district of north Biak, facing the pacific ocean, with a total population of about 9,800. The national coordinating board for disaster management (Bakornas) and the head of the local office of Biak Numfor, provided provisional information on the impact of the earthquake as of 19 February 1996: death toll 41, with 50 injured and 19 missing; damage to 2,594 houses, 30 prayer buildings, 49 school buildings/teachers' houses, 7 village halls, and the airport control tower in Biak; estimated loss: 20 billion Rupiah (USD 8.8 million). (UN DHA, 19 Feb 1996)

As of 29 Feb, death toll was 108 with 58 missing, 56 seriously and 367 slightly injured; 1018 houses destroyed/swept away, 3180 houses with major and 845 minor damage. Updated figures on damage to public buildings and infrastructure available with DHA. National Meteorology and Geophysics authorities recorded 403 aftershocks, 4 of which at grade 6 in Richter scale. (UN DHA, 1 Mar 1996)