Indonesia: Earthquake - May 1995

According to UNDP Resident Representative in Jakarta, Indonesia, earthquakes, of different magnitude, hit three different locations in the eastern part of Indonesia on 20 and 21 May 1995, with relatively low number of casualties and some material damages in public buildings and private homes.

On Saturday, 20 May 1995, an earthquake of magnitude 5.7 Richter scale, hit central Sulawesi. The epicentre was located in the gulf of Tomini, some 32 km southeast of the provincial capital of Palu (1,450 km of Jakarta). The tremor was felt in Palu and in the sub district of Paragi, the most severely affected area. Until this moment reports indicate no deaths, 8 severely injured and 45 slightly injured persons. 24 private houses were destroyed, 114 severely damaged and 385 slightly damaged. 18 government buildings and 4 schools were slightly damaged and 11 schools seriously affected.

On the same day, 20 May, the Maluku province was hit by an earthquake of a magnitude of 5.5 Richter scale. The epicentre was located in Banda Sea, about 250 km north of Seram, the largest island in Maluku province. No casualties or damages have been reported.

On Sunday, 21 May 1995, another earthquake hit the Indonesian territory. This time the area affected was flores, a sparsely populated island at 600 km east of the resort island of Bali. The epicentre was located in the Flores Sea , 39 km of Larantuka, the district capital of east Flores, with a magnitude of 4.7 Richter scale. The tremor was felt at Larantuka. (UN DHA, 26 May 1995)