During this year alone, Indonesia has been struck with multiple catastrophic earthquakes. Week after week, new quakes have erupted and devastated the archipelago. The seisms range from 34.7km - 123.4km below the Earth’s surface, and differed from 5.6 - 6.2 in magnitude levels. Usually, quakes of about this size do not result in wide-spread damage, but the addition of the fault lines the country resides upon and the flimsy infrastructure of its buildings all helped to contribute to the damage that was caused, The Associated Press reports.  Some shocks were more deadly than others, but the accumulation of multiple in close proximity to one another has left the country in shambles.

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The U.S. Geological Survey had stated that the 5.8 magnitude earthquake that had struck it last week shook at a depth of 123.7 kilometers - equivalent to 76.9 miles - under the earth. This particular earthquake happened in Ciranjang-hilir in West Java province, the same province where a 5.6 magnitude shock wave had killed 334 people and severely injured 600 citizens, Reuters states.

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This became the most deadly earthquake to rock Indonesia since “a 2018 quake and tsunami in Sulawesi killed about 4,340 people,” the article, “Deep, 5.8 magnitude quake shakes Indonesia's capital” informs. However, this shock only struck at a depth of 10 kilometers/6.2 miles. As mentioned before, it is common for Indonesia to experience earthquakes because the island is located near the fault lines of the Pacific Ocean, commonly referred to as “The Ring Of Fire”. However, such deep and tragic earthquakes like this one are not usual. 

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Following the shock of this massive quake came another with a 5.5 magnitude on December 7, striking the heart of Abepura. This earthquake was not as deep a shock, only ranging about  37.4 kilometers (23.24 miles) under the Earth’s surface. Last February, “ a magnitude 6.2 earthquake killed at least 25 people and injured more than 460 in West Sumatra province” according to The Associated Press.

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Gayatri Marliyani, an assistant geology professor at Universitas Gadjah Mada, in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, states, “"Even though the earthquake was medium-sized, it (was) close to the surface ... and located inland, close to where people live…The energy was still large enough to cause significant shaking that led to damage," (npr.org). Millions of families are left devastated in wreckage left by the convulsions, but perhaps knowledge from this year can be spread and assist those in preparing for next year.

Works Cited

“Deep, 5.8 magnitude quake shakes Indonesia's capital.” Phys.org, 8 Dec. 2022. https://phys.org/news/2022-12-deep-magnitude-quake-indonesia-capital.html. 

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Reuters. “Magnitude 5.5 earthquake strikes Indonesia - USGS.” Bangkok Post, 8 Dec. 2022. https://www.bangkokpost.com. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2455877/magnitude-5-5-earthquake-strikes-indonesia-united-states-geological-survey-usgs-.

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The Associated Press. “Indonesia's earthquake had just a 5.6 magnitude. why are hundreds of people dead?” NPR. 22 Nov. 2022. https://www.npr.org/2022/11/22/1138694190/indonesia-earthquake-science-severity-damage-deaths