   | |
| UTC time | 1981-01-19 15:11:01 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 632891 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | January 20, 1981 |
| Local time | 00:11:01 WIT |
| Magnitude | 6.7 Mw |
| Depth | 33.0 km (20.5 mi) |
| Epicenter | 4°35′S 139°14′E / 4.58°S 139.23°E |
| Areas affected | Irian Jaya (now Highland Papua), Indonesia |
| Max. intensity | MMI VII (Very strong) |
| Casualties | 305 dead, 1,000+ missing |
Shortly after midnight local time on January 20 (January 19, UTC), 1981, eastern Indonesia was struck by an earthquake known as the 1981 Irian Jaya earthquake. Registering a moment magnitude of 6.7, it killed more than 300 people, damaging structures and buildings across the Irian Jaya province. Indonesia is highly active in terms of seismicity and volcanic eruptions, with a subduction zone and many faults. It is neighbored by several tectonic plates. Such earthquakes pose a significant threat to life in the area through earthquakes and also tsunamis.