M7.7 Tsunami

2010 Indonesia Earthquake

Mentawai Islands, Indonesia — October 25, 2010

The 2010 Mentawai earthquake generated a tsunami that killed 431 people on the remote Mentawai Islands. The event is classified as a "tsunami earthquake" — a rare type where tsunami amplitude is disproportionately large relative to the earthquake magnitude, catching residents off guard.

Earthquake Facts

Magnitude

M7.7

Date

Oct 25, 2010

Depth

20.6 km

Deaths

431

Latitude

-3.484°

Longitude

100.114°

Tsunami

Yes

Region

Indonesia

Tectonic Cause

Slow-rupturing thrust earthquake on the Sunda megathrust interface in the Mentawai seismic gap. Tsunami earthquakes tend to occur where older, colder oceanic crust subducts slowly.

Sources & Further Reading

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