Two shallow M6.2 earthquakes hit Papua, Indonesia
A series of strong earthquakes hit Papua, Indonesia on September 9 and 10, 2022. The first quake, registered by the USGS as M6.2, hit at 23:31 UTC on September 9 at a depth of 18 km (11.2 miles). It was followed by M5.9 at 23:44 UTC at a depth of 19.1 km (11.9 miles) and another M6.2 at 00:05 UTC on September 10.
The epicenters were located 261 km (162 miles) ESE of Biak (population 4 537), 275 km (171 miles) W of Abepura (population 62 248), and 283 km (176 miles) W of Jayapura (population 134 895), Papua.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are unreinforced brick with concrete floor and precast concrete frame with wall construction.
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and fires that might have contributed to losses.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
Featured image credit: TW/SAM, Google
If you value what we do here, create your ad-free account and support our journalism.
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:
We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.