November 2, 1979 Earthquake: Java, Indonesia
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Java, Indonesia on November 2, 1979 at 15:53:03 UTC, 62 km below the surface. It killed 30 people.
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
- November 2, 1979
- Time
- 15:53:03 UTC
- Place
- Java, Indonesia
- Magnitude
- 6.1 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 62 km (39 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 7.656° S, 108.252° E
- Country
- Indonesia
The toll
- Deaths
- 30
- Injuries
- 200
- Damage
- $16 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.
Reference #1053 lists 23 deaths.
Reference #1232 lists 30 deaths.
Reference #1250 lists $16 million damage.
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 2, 1924, Wonosobo, Java, Indonesia
- November 21, 2022, Cianjur, W Java, Indonesia
- September 2, 2009, Java, Indonesia
- November 12, 1924, Java, Indonesia
- October 25, 1875, Kuningan, W Java, Indonesia
- December 15, 2017, Java, Indonesia
- April 18, 2018, Banjarnegara, Java, Indonesia
- September 18, 2024, Bandung, Java, Indonesia
- January 10, 2010, Garut, Java, Indonesia
- February 2, 2005, Garut, Java, Indonesia
- June 16, 1971, Buaran,bantar Kawsun,jipang, Java, Indonesia
- April 27, 2024, Bandung, Java, Indonesia
- April 16, 1980, Tasikmalaja, Java, Indonesia
- March 21, 2003, Caracas, Cilimus, Sampora, Java, Indonesia
- September 7, 1904, S. Java, Indonesia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1979The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1979Recent 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 4851.