February 17, 1996 Earthquake: Biak, Supiori, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia

Name: February 17, 1996 Earthquake: Biak, Supiori, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia
Start: 1996-02-17
Location: Biak, Supiori, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia

February 17, 1996 · M8.2 · 164 deaths · $4.2 million · 5,043 houses destroyed

A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Biak, Supiori, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia on February 17, 1996 at 05:59:30 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It killed 164 people, counting the tsunami it caused.

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 17, 1996
Time: 05:59:30 UTC
Place: Biak, Supiori, Irian Jaya, New Guinea, Indonesia
Magnitude: 8.2 (Mw)
Focal depth: 33 km (21 mi)
Intensity: 9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
Tsunami: Yes: the tsunami it caused
Epicenter: 0.891° S, 136.952° E
Country: Indonesia

The toll

Deaths: 54; 164 with its tsunami and other effects
Injuries: 423
Damage: $4.2 million
Houses destroyed: 5,043

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.

At least 108 people killed, 423 injured, 58 missing, 5,043 houses destroyed or damaged in the epicentral area. Extensive damage on Biak and Supiori from the tsunami, which reached heights of 7 meters in many areas. Also damage along the north coast of Irian Jaya from Manokwari to Sarmi. Complex earthquake, with at least two larger events occurring about 12 and 18 seconds after the onset. (reference #1053)

164 deaths, 432 injured, $4.2 million damage. (reference #1250)

Damage due to a ground quake on a soft sand at Bosnik, E. Biak where many sand boils were found. Almost all houses are collapsed by the quake. In the northern Biak the 11 dead, and 183 completely and 192 heavily destroyed houses are reported. (reference #1401)

According to the tectonic setting, this earthquake was associated with the Carolina- Pacific plate beneath to Bismarck-Australian plate (reference #13290)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1996 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1996 Recent earthquakes near here This 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 5433.