1924 Java earthquake
1924 earthquake sequence in Central Java
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The 1924 Java earthquake, also known as the 1924 Wonosobo earthquake sequence, was a destructive earthquake sequence that struck Central Java, Dutch East Indies, in November and December 1924. The two principal shocks occurred near Wonosobo on November 12 and December 2. According to various sources, between 842 and over 1,000 people died in the tragedy.[1][2] The disaster devastated Wonosobo and nearby highland settlements. Many deaths were caused by landslides and the collapse of houses, and the blocked Serayu River caused flooding.[1]
- Doublet earthquake:
- 1924-11-12 06:45:00
- 1924-12-02 01:21:00
- November 12, 1924
December 2, 1924
- 13:45 WIB
08:21 WIB
  Location within Indonesia | |
| UTC time |
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| ISC event | |
| USGS-ANSS | |
| Local date |
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| Local time |
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| Magnitude | |
| Depth |
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| Epicenter | near Wonosobo, Central Java, Dutch East Indies[1] 7.36°S 109.90°E |
| Type | tectonic |
| Areas affected | Central Java and Yogyakarta |
| Landslides | Yes |
| Casualties | At least 842 deaths; estimates above 1,000[1][2] |
Tectonic setting
Java lies above the Sunda megathrust, where the Australian Plate is subducted beneath the Sunda Plate. The Wonosobo sequence was an inland event in the volcanic highlands of Central Java rather than an offshore megathrust earthquake. It is a shallow tectonic sequence caused by a local fault that has not been securely identified.[1] Historical earthquake studies in Indonesia rely heavily on colonial-period written observations. The Gempa Nusantara database compiled 7,380 macroseismic observations for 1,200 Indonesian earthquakes between 1546 and 1950, assigning intensities with the European macroseismic scale.[3]
Earthquake sequence
The sequence began around November 9 and intensified before the first main shock on November 12.[1] The strongest modeled shocks were about M 5.8 and M 5.5, both shallow events near Wonosobo.[1] Shaking was felt across much of Central Java and in Yogyakarta.[1]
Impact
The first main shock killed about 727 people, and the second killed about 115 more.[1] Landslides swept through slopes and settlements, destroying homes and fields. About 2,250 houses were destroyed.[1] Relief work involved the colonial administration, local communities and civic organizations.[2] [4]
