February 24, 1982 Earthquake: Northern Sumatera, Indonesia
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Northern Sumatera, Indonesia on February 24, 1982 at 04:22:40 UTC, 52 km below the surface. It caused a tsunami.
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 24, 1982
- Time
- 04:22:40 UTC
- Place
- Northern Sumatera, Indonesia
- Magnitude
- 5.4 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 52 km (32 mi)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 4.374° N, 97.755° E
- Country
- Indonesia
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1982, Feb 24, 04:22:40.3 UTC. 4.374 N, 97.755 E, depth 52 km. magnitude 5.4 mb, 5.4 MS. Northern Sumatera. Felt at Medan. Also felt on Pinang, Peninsular Malaysia. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- July 2, 2013, Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- September 9, 1936, Tapanuli, Karo, N Sumatera, Indonesia
- April 12, 1967, N Sumatera,malay Peninsula, Indonesia-Malaysia
- September 5, 2011, Sumatra, Indonesia
- November 15, 1990, N Sumatera, Blangkejeren, Kutacane, Indonesia
- March 28, 2006, Tapaktuan, N. Sumatra, Indonesia
- August 20, 1997, N. Sumatera, Aceh, Banda Aceh, Medan, Indonesia
- May 1, 1816, Penang Island, Indonesia, Malaysia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1982The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1982Recent 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 6461.