1938 Banda Sea earthquake

1938 Banda Sea earthquake
UTC time1938-02-01 19:04:23
ISC event902352
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateFebruary 2, 1938 (1938-02-02)
Local time04:04
Magnitude8.5-8.6 Mw
Depth60 km (37 mi)
Epicenter5°03′S 131°37′E / 5.05°S 131.62°E / -5.05; 131.62
TypeOblique-slip
Max. intensityMMI VI (Strong)
RFS VII (Very strong tremor)
TsunamiYes, 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
AftershocksYes
CasualtiesNone

The 1938 Banda Sea earthquake occurred on February 2 at 04:04 local time with an estimated magnitude of 8.5-8.6 on the moment magnitude scale. Shaking was intense with an assigned Rossi–Forel intensity of VII (Very strong tremor) and intensity of VI (Strong) on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. This oblique-slip event generated a destructive tsunami of up to 1.5 metres in the Banda Sea region, but there were no deaths.