February 4, 1971 Earthquake: Natal, Sibolga, Tarutung, Pasaman, Indonesia
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Natal, Sibolga, Tarutung, Pasaman, Indonesia on February 4, 1971 at 15:33:28 UTC, 40 km below the surface.
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
- February 4, 1971
- Time
- 15:33:28 UTC
- Place
- Natal, Sibolga, Tarutung, Pasaman, Indonesia
- Magnitude
- 7.1 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 40 km (25 mi)
- Intensity
- 6 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 0.600° N, 98.800° 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.
1971, February 4, 15 33 28.6 UTC. Damage in northern Sumatra. Felt at Singapore. MAG. 6.7 (PAS). 6 3/4 (BRK). (reference #1053)
1971, February 4, 15 33 22 UTC. 0.6 N, 98.8 E. Intensity V-VI. Sibolga: North Sumatera - damage to brick buildings developed in Pasaman, Natal, Pinangsore, Sibolga and Pasir Ulu estate. Fissures were observed in Sibolga and hot springs
developed in Tarutung. The shock was generally felt in
various places in the eastern part of north Sumatera and as
far east as Singapore. No loss of life was reported from this earthquake. (reference #1188)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- September 30, 2009, Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia
- March 9, 1861, SW. Sumatra, Indonesia
- February 10, 1797, SW. Sumatra, Indonesia
- February 25, 2022, Pasaman, West Pasaman, W Sumatra, Indonesia
- December 17, 2006, Northern, Muarasipongi, Sumatera, Indonesia
- September 30, 2022, Sumatra, Indonesia
- April 25, 1987, N, Tarutung-Lake Toba,, Sumatera, Indonesia
- March 17, 2025, Tapanuli, N Sumatera, Indonesia
- January 22, 2008, Gunungsitoli, Nias Island, Sumatra, Indonesia
- December 28, 1935, Batu I,padang,sibolga, N Sumatera, Indonesia
- July 29, 1885, Ajerbangis, Sumatra, Indonesia
- August 27, 1984, Tarutung, N Sumatera, Indonesia
- January 5, 1843, SW. Sumatra, Indonesia
- November 11, 1852, Sibolga, Sumatra, Indonesia
- March 8, 1977, Sumatera,sinurat,talu, Indonesia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1971The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1971Recent 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 4555.