Post On : January 13, 2016
Relative Plate Motions
Indonesian archipelago is located in the convergence zone of four major tectonic plates: Eurasian plate, Indian-Australian plate, Pacific plate and Philippine plate. Interaction of these plates affected the seismo-tectonic of the Indonesian region.
The Indian-Australian plate moving northwards relative to Eurasian plate and the Pacific plate moving westward relative to both Indian-Australian and Eurasian plate.
Moreover, as a result of the India and Australia plates converging with and subducting beneath the Sunda plate at a rate of approximately 50 to 70 mm/yr.
Discussion
A Magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Talaud Island at 01:38 WIT on Tuesday, January 12, 2016. The earthquake was occurred on Philippine Sea Plate with shallow crust earthquake around 20 km. The mechanism solution indicates north-south thrust compression. This region is convergence zone between Philippine Sea Plate under the Eurasian Plate and the plate interface has been associated with few numbers of earthquakes.
Based on the results of analysis shakemap, the intensity of earthquakes around Melonguane is III-IV Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI). Therefore it is estimated that there is no damage.
The earthquake that struck the region did not generate a tsunami though the epicenter of earthquake was centered in the open ocean, because the energy released is not strong enough to trigger a tsunami.
Exposure and Loss
Preliminary result from Maipark Cat-model has estimated no losses or very minor losses from this event, and temporary report from local disaster management agency (BPBD) confirm this result.
For full report, click here.
