1996 Biak earthquake

1996 Biak earthquake
Date February 17, 1996 (1996-02-17)
Origin time 05:59:30 UTC [1]
Magnitude 8.2 Mw [1]
Depth 20 km (12 mi) [1]
Epicenter 0°57′S 136°56′E / .95°S 136.94°E / -.95; 136.94Coordinates: 0°57′S 136°56′E / .95°S 136.94°E / -.95; 136.94 [1]
Type Thrust [2]
Total damage $4.2 million [3]
Max. intensity VIII (Severe)
Tsunami 7 m (23 ft) [2]
Casualties 166 dead [3]
423 injured [3]
5,090 displaced [3]

The 1996 Biak earthquake, or the 1996 Irian Jaya earthquake, occurred on February 17 at 14:59:30 local time near Biak Island, Indonesia. The earthquake had a moment magnitude of 8.2 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VIII (Severe). The run-up height of the generated tsunami reached 7 meters (23 ft). One-hundred and sixty-six people were reported dead, 423 were injured, and 5,090 were made homeless.

This earthquake was a thrust in a very oblique subduction zone. It ruptured at least 270 km (170 mi) along the New Guinea trench.[4] The slip distribution is very nonuniform. The largest slip was ∼12 m near the hypocentral depth, and the mean slip over a 230 km by 100 km fault area was 4 m.[5]

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