Page 226 - THE MELANESIA DIASPORA FILE CETAK ISI 10022017

Sumatra has attracted research on earthquakes. There have been many small earthquakes
(4-5 AD) happening along the Sumatran Fault, the Mentawai Fault, and also in the
subduction zone which was one of the causes of the Aceh Tsunami (December 2004) and
the Mentawai Tsunami (March 2005). Even though there are many earthquakes in Sumatra,
small earthquakes also take place there quite often. In the meantime, Yogyakarta and the
surrounding area, including the southern part of Java and the subduction zone of tectonic
crust are the areas with less frequent activity compared to the average in Sumatra. Their
frequency was around once in 150-200 years, but when it happens, its size was often of 6
or 7 RS. A very powerful earthquake which happened in 1867 destroying Taman Sari in the
southern part of Yogyakarta was estimated to be of 8 MW.
The estimate of earthquake strength was based on the damage to Taman Sari (in the
southern part of Pasar Ngasem Jogja) and also the casualties of up to 500 people. While this

Left: The relics of Taman
Sari, Yogyakarta due to the
big earthquake on June
10, 1867.

Above: Taman Sari Yogyakarta after renovation

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