May 15, 1923 Earthquake: Maos, Java, Indonesia
An earthquake struck Maos, Java, Indonesia on May 15, 1923.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- May 15, 1923
- Place
- Maos, Java, Indonesia
- Intensity
- 9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 7.700° S, 109.200° E
- Country
- Indonesia
The toll
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1923, May 15. 7.7 S, 109.2 E. Intensity IX. Maos: Central Java - the shock 1923 May 15 was felt intensively over western Central Java. Destructive effects were particularly pronounced in and around Maos. (reference #1188)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- May 26, 2006, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia
- December 2, 1924, Wonosobo, Java, Indonesia
- November 12, 1924, Java, Indonesia
- November 2, 1979, Java, Indonesia
- October 25, 1875, Kuningan, W Java, Indonesia
- June 10, 1867, Jogyakarta, Surakarta, Java, Indonesia
- December 15, 2017, Java, Indonesia
- April 18, 2018, Banjarnegara, Java, Indonesia
- September 18, 2024, Bandung, Java, Indonesia
- June 16, 1971, Buaran,bantar Kawsun,jipang, Java, Indonesia
- June 30, 2023, Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia
- January 10, 2010, Garut, Java, Indonesia
- February 2, 2005, Garut, Java, Indonesia
- September 7, 1904, S. Java, Indonesia
- July 31, 1863, Banyumas, Java, Indonesia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1923The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1923Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 3221.