Report on Jan. 4th Indonesia Earthquake and Tsunami Launched: Jan 4, 2009 Updated: Jan 12, 2009 Earthquake Research Institute, the University of Tokyo A magnitude 7.6 (according to the Global CMT Project) earthquake occurred at 4:44 am, January 4, 2009, near the northern coast of Papua, Indonesia (latitude 0.51°south, longitude 132.78°east, depth 35km). Due to the large magnitude and shallow earthquake depth, tsunamis were also generated. (Later, on the same day at 3:45 pm, Japan Meteorological Agency called off all tsunami warnings that had been issued throughout the country.) The earthquake and tsunami report on this page will be updated continually. (Outreach office) [Tsunami simulation] Professor Kenji Satake (Earthquake Information Center) A simulation of the tsunami due to the two earthquakes. Click below for the explanation page. [Focal mechanism and aftershock distribution] Natalia Poiata D1 (Division of Disaster Mitigation Science) Focal mechanism of the earthquake at 4:44am (left side of the figure) January 4, and at 7:33am (right side). Both earthquakes are produced by a reverse fault that runs through the east and west, (strike) and dips to south-west. (Click the figure below to see more details). by Natalia Poiata [Record of GPS tsunami monitor] Professor Teruyuki Kato (Earthquake Prediction Research Center) Result of the GPS tsunami monitor that is operating in Muroto, Kochi. （Click the figure below to go to the explanation page. ) [Seismic waveform that is recorded by J-array ] Assistant professor Hiroshi Tsuruoka (Earthquake information center) [Reference: Earthquake in 1996] The earthquake on January 3, 2009, occurred about 470 km west of the magnitude 8.1 earthquake that occurred on February 17, 1996. (The 1996 earthquake also produced a tsunami.) On the Ogasawara islands, a tsunami with a height of 1m was observed. (On Biak Island, Indonesia, the earthquake and the tsunami claimed over 100 lives). Tsunami after the 1996 earthquake: Chichi Island observed a maximum height of a 1m tsunami three hours later after the earthquake. The next big tsunami (height of 50cm) arrived three hours later after the first tsunami arrived. Because the area and mechanism of the earthquake are similar to the 1996 earthquake, the 2009 earthquake will produce the same phenomenon.（The magnitude of the 2009 earthquake is smaller than the one in 1996）. However, this time, two major earthquakes occurred in the same area, the first one being a magnitude of 7.6, and the second one a magnitude of 7.4. This occurred three hours after the first earthquake. Because of this, the amplitude of the seismic wave will increase, causing greater damage. This time, about five hours after the earthquake, a 40cm tsunami was observed in Chichi Island. [Report of the damage (at 5pm on January 4, Japan time)] At least 4 people have been confirmed dead due to collapse of a building, and about 40 were injured. At least 10 buildings (including hotels and public institutions) were completely destroyed. Electricity is still out in 150, 000 homes.