On Friday Afternoon an Unusually powerful M7.0 Earthquake struck in the Java Sea 158km from Surabaya (Indonesia).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on April 14th, 2023. Last updated June 12th, 2023.

In the late afternoon of Friday April 14th, 2023, an unusually powerful MAG-7.0 earthquake hit in the Java Sea 158 kilometer from Surabaya, Indonesia. Around 45 million people have been exposed to shaking.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Java Sea, 66 kilometers (41 mi) off the coast of Indonesia, 158 kilometer north-northwest of Surabaya in East Java. The center of this earthquake had a very deep depth of 597 km. Deep earthquakes usually have less impact than shallower earthquakes of similar strenght.

Date and Time:	Apr 14, 2023 16:55 (Jakarta Time) - Apr 14, 2023 09:55 Universal Time.
Location:	158 km NNW of Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. Coordinates 6°1'29"S 112°1'33"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 7.0 Detected by 32 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.055 .
Depth:	597 km (371 mi) A very deep depth.
Max. Intensity:	III Weak On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Small (but not impossible) Tsunami Risk Mag 6.5+ earthquakes under sea may cause tsunami's, but the risk is lower as this earthquake appears not to be very shallow. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

One person killed in Tabanan. Several homes destroyed and damaged in East Java and West Java.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 45 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 45 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

An estimated 41,020,000 people were exposed to level III. At this level, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Indonesia .

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Indonesia . Located 97 kilometer (60 mi) north of the epicenter of this earthquake, Tuban (East Java, Indonesia) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Tuban is estimated to be around level III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (weak shaking, probably no damage).

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Surabaya is located 158 km to the south-southeast and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Semarang is located 207 km to the west-southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Bandung is located 498 km to the west-southwest (intensity unknown, possibly low).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is III.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 124 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 124 people have reported shaking in 55 places, all within Indonesia.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Kuta, Bali, Indonesia: 20 people.
• Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia: 11 people.
• Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia: 7 people.
• Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia: 6 people.
• Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia: 5 people.
• Kanigoro, Jawa Timur, Indonesia: 5 people.
• Sukabumi, Jawa Barat, Indonesia: 4 people.
• Ubud, Bali, Indonesia: 4 people.
• Mataram, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia: 4 people.
• Blitar, Jawa Timur, Indonesia: 3 people.

Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 1 smaller aftershock occurred. Just 3 days after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4.7 was detected 20 km (12 mi) west of this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

This is an unusually powerful earthquake

No earthquake of this strength has struck this region for a long time. Our data goes back 10 years, and no earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 7 or higher have been detected within 300 km (186 mi) of this epicenter.

Small (but not impossible) Tsunami Risk

Tsunami's are usually triggered by shallow earthquakes occurring at a maximum depth of a 100km. Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not shallow. However this was a very strong earthquake with it's epicenter under sea. Stay very cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Sources

Last updated 12/06/23 11:57 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000k49j
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20230414_0000095
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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