World Map › Major Earthquakes Since 1900 › 1996
Historic Earthquake
1996 Biak Earthquake
17 February 1996 · New Guinea, Irian Jaya · Indonesia
On 17 February 1996 at 05:59 UTC, a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Indonesia (New Guinea, Irian Jaya), at a depth of 33 km. It occurred on the Bird's Head Plate, 61 km from its boundary with the Caroline Plate (subduction zone). It killed at least 164 people (including tsunami victims) and injured 423. 5,043 homes were destroyed. It is the 63rd most powerful of the earthquakes recorded since 1900.
- Date
- 17 February 1996
- Time
- 05:59 UTC
- Magnitude
- 8.2
- Depth
- 33 km
- Maximum Intensity
- IX (Mercalli)
- Deaths
- 164
- Injuries
- 423
- Homes Destroyed
- 5,043
- Estimated Damage
- 4 million US dollars
- Tsunami
- See the tsunami (7.7 m wave)
- Plate
- Bird's Head Plate
- Country
- Indonesia
Nearby Major Earthquakes
Other major earthquakes recorded within 300 km.
- 2015Papua · M 7.01 deaths
- 20102010 Papua Earthquake · M 7.017 deaths
- 1985New Guinea, Irian Jaya · M 7.1
- 19791979 Yapen Earthquake · M 7.9115 deaths
- 1957New Guinea, Irian Jaya · M 7.3
- 1916New Guinea, Irian Jaya · M 8.1
- 1916New Guinea, Irian Jaya · M 8.1
- 1914New Guinea, Irian Jaya · M 8.1
Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Significant Earthquake Database (doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K) · Wikidata · Bird (2003), PB2002 · Natural Earth