January 21, 1994 Earthquake: Kau, Indonesia
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Kau, Indonesia on January 21, 1994 at 02:24:29 UTC, 20 km below the surface. It killed 9 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
- January 21, 1994
- Time
- 02:24:29 UTC
- Place
- Kau, Indonesia
- Magnitude
- 7 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 20 km (12 mi)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 1.015° N, 127.733° E
- Country
- Indonesia
The toll
- Deaths
- 9
- Injuries
- 300
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses damaged
- 550
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.
A strong magnitude Ms 7.2 earthquake struck the Halmahera
Island region of Indonesia at 02:24Z January 21,1994... A report issued by the wire services said "the quake damaged roads and an airport in the Halmahera Islands and generated a tsunami that washed about one-half mile inland." Subsequent reports issued by the UN - Department of Humanitarian Affairs (Geneva) said seven people were killed and 40 injured near the northern isthmus of Halmahera Island (later reports indicated nine people died and
300 injured). Severe damage to housing, government buildings, and public facilities were reported. Minor tidal waves (tsunami) of 2 meters were reported from the western coast of Halmahera Island. (reference #6790).
7 people killed, 40 injured and 550 houses damaged in the Kau area. (reference #1053)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- July 14, 1855, Ternate Island, Maluku, Indonesia
- July 14, 2019, N, Molucca Islands, Indonesia
- January 21, 2007, N, Molucca Islands, Indonesia
- April 1, 2026, North Maluku, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
- November 14, 2019, N, Molucca Islands, Indonesia
- November 18, 2017, Morotai, North Maluku, Indonesia
- May 26, 2003, Morotai, Berebere, Daruba, Indonesia
- September 27, 1854, Ternate Island, Maluku, Indonesia
- May 20, 1673, N. Moluccas Islands, Indonesia
- August 12, 1673, N. Moluccas Islands, Indonesia
- August 11, 2003, Wasile, Halmahera, Indonesia
- February 14, 1840, Ternate Island, Maluku, Indonesia
- June 25, 1907, Djailolo Gilolo, Indonesia
- July 19, 1646, Makjan (Maklan), Maluku, Indonesia
- January 10, 1900, Galela (Halmahera Island), Indonesia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1994The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1994Recent 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 5375.