February 1, 1938 Earthquake: New Guinea, Indonesia

Reference #414:

February 2, 1938, 3:34 [local time] 19h04m18s UTC; 5.25 S, 130.5 E, M=8.2. There was a strong earthquake on the east of Indonesia, including the west of New Guinea, with a maximal intensity of 7 degrees (VI11 - Rossi-Forel). On the Kai Islands at Tual, stucco collapsed, domestic equipment was smashed and clocks stopped. On New Guinea, at Fakfak, the lighthouse was put out of service. At Tanahmerah, regular, but not very strong, oscillations occurred for about 1.5 minutes; some residents did not wake up; empty bottles fell from a shelf. At Tanahtingi, the earthquake was perhaps somewhat stronger. It was felt all over the western part of New Guinea, as far as Merauke, and even at Darwin (Australia). There were many recurrent shocks.

Reports were received that near the epicenter, at 5 deg 43 min S., 132 deg 37 min E, in the Kai group of islands, a new small island rose from the water. The island was 56 m long, 52 m wide and 5-6 m high.

In the epicentral area the greatest damage was done not by the earthquake, but by the tsunami which it generated.

Reference #9362:

[…] minimal amount of damage wrought by the main shock. From the scant available reports, it appears that the earthquake was felt at no more than modified Mercalli intensity VI in the hardest hit areas (the Kai and Banda islands), and that it resulted in no casualties. Conversely, the event was felt strongly over a wide area, reaching Merauke and Darwin.

Reference #88:

February 1, 1938, 19:04:18 UTC, 5.3 S, 130.5 W, shallow depth, magnitude 8.6 MS.

Reference #130:

February 1, 1938, 19:04:18 UTC, 5.25 S, 130.5 E, magnitude 8.2 MS.

Reference #1314:

Magnitude 8.2 MS, 8.5 Mw.

Reference #9910:

February 1, 1938, 19:04:21.58 UTC, 5.05 S, 131.62 W, 60 depth, magnitude 8.4 Mw.

Reference #10476:

February 1, 1938, 19:04:27.91 UTC, 5.041 S, 131.579 W, 60 depth, magnitude 8.5 Mw.

Reference #13185:

The world’s largest intraslab event ever recorded, the 1938 moment magnitude (Mw) 8.6 Banda Sea earthquake, was felt only moderately in the Banda Islands and did not cause a large tsunami

Reference #13456:

February 1, 1938, 19:04:22 UTC, 5.045 S, 131.614 W, 25 depth, magnitude 8.5 Mw

Reference #13546:

February 1, 1938, magnitude 8.6 Mw