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The effects in Western Australia of a major earthquake in Indonesia on 19 August 1977

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Created 13/01/2025

Updated 13/01/2025

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The Indonesian earthquake of 19 August 1977, with a magnitude (M), 8 was felt in Western Australia up to distances of 2600 km. The maximum ground intensity felt was MM V in northwest towns up to 1100 km from the epicentre. The ground intensity in Perth, 2300 km from the epic entre, was MM III or less. Resonance of multi-storey buildings resulted in an eight-fold amplification of peak ground acceleration on the upper floors. Only minor damage occurred in Perth. Seismic sea waves up to six metres in height were reported several hours after the earthquake at towns along the northwest coast. There were no reports of damage associated with these waves. They arrived along the coast near low tide, otherwise there could have been some flooding. An examination of data from the Sunda arc region, for the period 1900-1977, suggests that about eight earthquakes of magnitude greater than 7.5 could occur in this region every hundred years. Of these, two or three may be felt in Western Australia. The 1977 earthquake was the largest and closest to Western Australia since 1900 and its effects are the maximum likely to be experienced from this region. Consideration should be given to installing accelerographs in selected buildings in Perth.

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Title The effects in Western Australia of a major earthquake in Indonesia on 19 August 1977
Language eng
Licence notspecified
Landing Page https://devweb.dga.links.com.au/data/dataset/c6306112-b0b3-4ef9-bca8-be7818642ae6
Contact Point
Geoscience Australia
clientservices@ga.gov.au
Reference Period 20/04/2018
Geospatial Coverage {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[102.0, -37.0], [133.0, -37.0], [133.0, -3.0], [102.0, -3.0], [102.0, -37.0]]]}
Data Portal data.gov.au