User:Quake1234/2025 Irian Jaya earthquake

On 11 January 2025, at 07:15 WIT or 08:15 PGT (22:15 UTC on 10 January), a 8.0–8.1 earthquake struck the province of Papua in Indonesia, near the border with Sandaun Province, Papua. The earthquake was the largest to occur in Indonesia since the 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes.

The earthquake caused severe damage in both Indonesia's Western New Guinea and in Papua's Sandaun Province. There were at least 2,350 fatalities; 1,846 in Indonesia and 404 in Papua. Across both countries, 14,359 people were injured and 223,935 structures were damaged or destroyed. Damages were estimated at US$11.9 billion in Papua, and US$3.5 billion in Indonesia.

Tectonic setting
Indonesia, one of the most seismically active places in the world, hosts hundreds of islands, many with volcanoes. It is an island arc, composed by a subduction zone (in the Sunda Trench) and islands. Unlike most subduction zones, the Sunda Trench is parallel to the chain of islands to which it corresponds, creating strike-slip faulting. Indonesia itself is surrounded by multiple tectonic plates – namely the Pacific, the Southeast Asia lithospheric, and the Indo-Australian Plates – causing it to be a so-called hotspot for both seismic and volcanic activity.

Earthquake
According to the USGS, the earthquake had a moment magnitude of 8.0, at a depth of 26.9 km. The Papuan Geophysical Agency (PGA) also reported a surface-wave magnitude  of 8.0, while the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) registered a magnitude of 8.1. The earthquake was the largest to occur in Indonesia since the 2012 Indian Ocean earthquakes, and the largest in Western New Guinea since the 1996 Biak earthquake. The epicenter was in Papua Provice, in Jayapura Regency, about 142 km west of the border with Papua. The orientation and type of faulting is uncertain, due to a poorly constrained focal mechanism but is thought to have been a reverse fault.

Aftershocks
About 2,600 aftershocks were detected by the BMKG, including six above 6.0, the largest of which measured 6.6 and occurred at 01:03 UTC, 11 January. Aftershocks continued to be frequent in the area until March.

Geological effects
Liquefaction was identified via satellite and remote sensing across Papua Province in Indonesia, and Sandaun Province in Papua. Liquefaction and lateral spreading were observed at and near coastal areas, fluvial valleys and drained lake or swamp areas, covered by Holocene sediments. These effects were widespread in Jayapura and Keerom regencies, as well as in the Papuan cities of Vanimo, with reports of liquefaction as far away as Aitape and Tabubil.

The earthquake caused shaking levels (≥0.12 g) sufficient for landslide-triggering across a 58,365 km² (22,535 mi²) area; landslides were some of the most widespread ever caused by an earthquake. About 3,673 earthquake-triggered landslides were identified using satellite imagery, aerial photos, and one field survey of the area. Landslides mainly occurred in Papua and Highland Papua Provinces, as well as in Fly and Sandaun Provinces, Papua. Landslides caused a large percentage of the casualties from the earthquake.

Intensity
Three PGA seismic installations, two at Green River and one at Wutung, recorded large ground accelerations and velocities. The town of Wutung recorded 0.7083 g in ground acceleration (pga) and 84.6 cm/s (33.31 in/s) in ground velocity. The station data corresponded to a Modified Mercalli intensity] of VIII (Severe), but the shaking intensity was very close to IX (Violent). A peak ground acceleration of 0.72 g was recorded by a station at Green River. Shaking in northwestern New Guinea were amplified due to the area compromising of soft sediments.

Indonesia
At least 1,846 fatalities and 8,804 injuries were recorded in Western New Guinea, Indonesia; many of the casualties were due to landslides. At least 44,889 buildings were destroyed and 80,811 more were damaged in the country. Damage in Indonesia was estimated at US$3.5 billion.

In Kaureh District, closest to the epicenter, 1,310 houses and four villages were razed, with 273 deaths and 683 injuries reported. About 60% of the district's population were displaced after the earthquake.

At least 580 people were killed and 4,563 others were injured in Jayapura City, where 28,226 houses collapsed and 40,127 others were damaged; 524 schools, 144 religious locations, 13 offices and three health facilities were also damaged in the city. Mall Jayapura, the largest shopping center in the city, collapsed, killing dozens of people. Horison Jayapura, a seven-story hotel, also collapsed, killing 209 guests and injuring 43 others. At the time of the earthquake, 103 of the 108 bedrooms of the hotel were occupied. In Abepura, many buildings with two or three floors were heavily damaged, and a hotel completely collapsed.

In Keerom Regency, 892 people died and 724 others were injured. At least 7,023 houses collapsed and 3,511 others were damaged in the regency. Over 50% of houses in seven districts were destroyed by the earthquake. Arso District was the worst affected area, with 4,471 houses destroyed and 790 people killed. Another 102 people died in Senggi District.

Dortheys Hiyo Eluay International Airport was forced to close as large cracks, one of which was 500 meters long, had been formed on the runway. Airport officials confirmed that the navigation system was damaged and the control tower of the airport collapsed. Major structural damage was also reported in the airport, with the roof the airport's terminal reportedly caved in. The airport was reopened for limited operation on 12 January. Due to the damage in the airport, hundreds of passengers were stranded and were told to wait in the airport's apron. Normal operation returned on service on 14 January.

At least 114 people were killed and 680 others were injured in Jayawijaya Regency, where 4,175 houses were destroyed and 13,879 more were damaged, or about 30% of the regency's housing stock. In the regency, 231 schools, 99 religious buildings, 67 health facilities and 14 government offices were also affected, with a large number of them severely damaged. In Wamena, about half of the town's houses were damaged. In Yahukimo Regency, 41 people died and 1,579 more were injured; 2,712 houses collapsed and 10,707 more were damaged there. Thirty-two of the fatalities were caused by landslides.

In Puncak Jaya Regency, 35 deaths and 457 injuries were reported, 52 of them seriously. About 1,075 homes were destroyed with 5,552 others, 208 educational facilities, 70 religious buildings, 25 health facilities, 10 government offices and a prison damaged. An elementary school in the regency suffered serious damage, and in the district's office, a room partially collapsed. Telecommunication services were disrupted and a church collapsed. Nineteen villages were badly affected by landslides in Puncak Jaya, including three that were completely buried, killing 23 people. Three people died, 40 others were injured, 59 houses collapsed and 1,533 others, three schools, a hospital and six churches were damaged in Puncak Regency.

Eleven people were injured, 150 houses collapsed and 1,857 others were damaged in Lanny Jaya Regency. In Bintang Mountains Regency, one person sustained injuries and 14 houses collapsed, with 284 others, three schools and two mosques damaged. In Sarmi Regency, one person died, 16 others were injured and 884 houses were damaged, 55 of them severely; 46 houses collapsed and hundreds more were damaged in Sarmi Town.

Eighteen people were injured, 14 houses were destroyed and 718 more sustained damage in Nduga Regency. In Waropen Regency, one person was injured, 17 homes collapsed and 181 others, four schools and a hospital were damaged. Six houses were destroyed and 24 more were damaged in Timika. Landslides killed one person, destroyed six houses and damaged 25 more in Nabire Regency. In Merauke, one person died of a heart attack and an old house collapsed. Two people were injured and 135 houses were damaged in Mimika Regency.

Papua
There were 404 deaths and 5,555 injuries in Papua, with most of the casualties occurring in Sandaun Province. Across the country, 19,283 buildings were destroyed and 78,859 others were damaged. Damage in the country was estimated at US$11.9 billion, mostly in the Vanimo-Aitape area.

At least 77 people were killed, 414 others were injured, 2,394 houses collapsed and 6,605 others were damaged in Walsa. Ten villages were severely damaged in the municipality. Damage was most severe in Imonda, with 10 houses destroyed by a fire which killed three people. At least 40 people were killed, 281 others were injured, 193 houses collapsed, 3,154 were severely damaged and 7,209 more were slightly damaged in Amanab.

In Wutung Municipality, 29 people were killed, 203 others were injured, 409 houses collapsed and 3,156 more were severely damaged, while minor damage was recorded in 9,411 others. In Wutung's town center, five people died of indirect causes and hundreds of houses were damaged but no buildings collapsed. About 2 km of road was badly damaged. There were 51 deaths and 492 injuries in Green River. In the municipality, 3,413 houses were severely affected, including 377 which were completely destroyed, while 10,554 others were damaged.

In Vanimo, 156 people were killed and 3,327 others were injured. Of the fatalities, 85 died of indirect causes and 71 were killed by collapsing structures. About 1,400 of the 3,327 injuries were caused by falling debris, with the rest attributed to panic attacks or other indirect causes. Across the city, 1,551 houses collapsed, 3,902 were partially destroyed and 20,708 were damaged; 12 buildings collapsed in the city center, 23 were badly damaged and 120 were moderately damaged. The seven-story Takahashi Hotel collapsed on its side and struck a house, killing seven people and injuring many others. Vanimo Aiport sustained minor damage to the terminal, runway and ATC tower, forcing it to close until 12 January. Overall, damage in the city was estimated at US$7.3 billion.

At least 24 people were killed and 496 others were injured in Aitape. In the city, 129 houses collapsed, 646 others were severely damaged and 2,452 others were partially damaged. The terminal of Aitape Airport was slightly damaged but repairs were quick and the airport was only closed for two hours after the earthquake. The four-story Raihu Supermarket was the deadliest structural collapse in Aitape, with five people crushed to death. Damage in the Aitape was estimated at US$2.8 billion. In Sissano, two people were killed, 88 others were injured, 36 houses collapsed and 588 more were damaged.

Six people were killed and 24 others were injured in Telefomin District, where 118 houses were destroyed and 846 others were damaged. Landslides caused most of the destruction and casualties, with half of the village of Unga buried. In Tabubil, three people died with 59 more injured and over 700 houses damaged. Five deaths and 32 injuries were reported in Tunap, where 178 houses collapsed and 500 more were damaged.

In Porgera, four people were killed, 23 others were injured and 36 buildings were damaged. All 48,540 miners working at the Porgera Gold Mine were evacuated, however a small section of the mine collapsed, killing four people and injuring six more. In Wewak, three deaths and 48 injuries were reported, with 67 buildings suffering damage. In Maprik District, nine people were injured and 17 houses were damaged. Four people died and 56 others were injured in Tari, where four houses collapsed and 80 others were damaged. Three people were injured and 28 houses were damaged in Kiunga. Minor damage was also recorded in Ambunti, Komo, Kopiago and Lagaip.

Estimations of losses
The USGS Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) service estimated a 35% probability of economic losses between US$100 million and US$1 billion. There was a 34% probability of economic losses exceeding US$1 billion. The service estimated a 36% percent probability of deaths between 100-1,000; 26% probability of deaths exceeding 1,000.

Response
At 22:22 UTC, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami threat message warning of the potential for dangerous tsunami waves along the coasts of Indonesia and Papua, within 1,000 km (620 mi) of the epicenter. The PTWC announced on 00:25 UTC that the tsunami threat was over.