1968 Sulawesi earthquake

1968 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami

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UTC time	1968-08-14 22:14:23
ISC event	818025
USGS-ANSS	ComCat
Local date	August 15, 1968 (1968-08-15)
Local time	06:14:23
Magnitude	7.4 ML 7.2 Mw^(USGS)
Depth	17 km (11 mi)[1]
Epicenter	0.06°N 119.69°E / 0.06; 119.69[1]
Fault	Palu-Koro fault
Areas affected	Indonesia
Max. intensity	MMI IX (Violent)
Casualties	213 killed

The 1968 Sulawesi earthquake struck Indonesia on August 14. It had a Richter magnitude of 7.4, spawned a large tsunami, and killed roughly 200 people.

Damage and casualties

The earthquake had a Richter magnitude of 7.4. It created a tsunami with wave heights of 8 m (26 ft) to 10 m (33 ft), which soon traveled onto Sulawesi. The most extensive waves reached 300 m (980 ft) inland, destroying 700 homes and killing around 200 people.^[2]

Geology

The earthquake ruptured along Palu-Koro fault^[3] in Manimbaja Bay. It caused subsidence that decreased elevations by as much as 2 m (6 ft 7 in) to 3 m (9.8 ft) along the coast. It also appeared to uplift at least one of the Togian Islands.^[2]

The earthquake was near the Celebes Sea; it sank the island of Tuguan.^[4]

See also

• 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami
• List of earthquakes in 1968
• List of earthquakes in Indonesia

References

1. Engdahl, E. R.; Vallaseñor, A. (2002). "Global seismicity: 1900–1999" (PDF). International Handbook of Earthquake & Engineering Seismology. Part A, Volume 81A (First ed.). Academic Press. p. 682. ISBN 978-0124406520.
2. "Today in Earthquake History: August 14". United States Geological Survey. October 2, 2012. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
3. Watkinson I.M.; Hall R. (2016). "Fault systems of the eastern Indonesian triple junction: evaluation of Quaternary activity and implications for seismic hazards" (PDF). In Cummins P.R.; Meilano I. (eds.). Geohazards in Indonesia: Earth Science for Disaster Risk Reduction. Geological Society, London, Special Publications. Vol. 441. pp. 71–120. Bibcode:2017GSLSP.441...71W. doi:10.1144/SP441.8. ISBN 9781862399662. S2CID 132297395. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
4. Newsletter, International Tsunami Information Center, 1968

External links

• The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.