September 28, 1997 Earthquake: Sulawesi, Parepare, Indonesia
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Sulawesi, Parepare, Indonesia on September 28, 1997 at 01:38:28 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It killed 20 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
- September 28, 1997
- Time
- 01:38:28 UTC
- Place
- Sulawesi, Parepare, Indonesia
- Magnitude
- 5.9 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 33 km (21 mi)
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 3.776° S, 119.727° E
- Country
- Indonesia
The toll
- Deaths
- 20
- Injuries
- 300
- Damage
- $1.1 million
- Houses destroyed
- 650
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.
1997, Sept 28. At least 18 people killed, over 300 injured and 650 houses and buildings destroyed in the Parepare-Pinrang area. Felt (IV) at Majene and (III) at Ujungpandang. (reference #1053)
1997, Sept 28. 29 killed, $1.1 million damage. (reference #1250)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- February 23, 1969, Parasanga, Paletoang, Sulawesi, Indonesia
- January 14, 2021, Mamuju, Majene, Sulawesi, Indonesia
- April 11, 1967, Makassar Strait, Indonesia
- January 8, 1964, Pinrang, Sulawesi, Indonesia
- November 14, 2018, Mamasa, Sulawesi, Indonesia
- January 8, 1984, W, Sulawesi, Indonesia
- November 24, 2006, Pinrang, Sulawesi, Indonesia
More
Significant earthquakes of 1997The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1997Recent 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 5474.