Location:

Period:

25 Oct 2010 14:42:22 - 27 Oct 2010 04:33:20 (1 day 13 hours 50 minutes)

Volcanoes in 100km radius:

None

Earthquakes:

M 7.0+:

M 7.8; 215 km SW of Sungai Penuh, Indonesia; (25 Oct 2010) (34km from the swarm center)

10 swarms found nearby.

2007

PS20070912.2(172.0km)

12 Sep

1 day 15 hours

21 earthquakes

PS20070912.1(145.0km)

12 Sep

1 day 16 hours

17 earthquakes

PS20070913.1(179.4km)

13 Sep

20 hours

16 earthquakes

PS20070914.1(165.7km)

13 Sep

23 hours

6 earthquakes

PS20070915.1(170.5km)

15 Sep

1 day 9 hours

9 earthquakes

PS20070924.1(116.8km)

23 Sep

15 hours

8 earthquakes

PS20071021.1(108.6km)

21 Oct

3 hours

6 earthquakes

2008

PS20080225.1(141.2km)

24 Feb

1 day 12 hours

11 earthquakes

2019

PS20190202.1(84.6km)

2 Feb

4 hours

7 earthquakes

2020

PS20201019.1(88.4km)

18 Oct

17 hours

5 earthquakes

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Seismic Swarm PS20101025.1: Insights into the October 2010 Activity Southwest of Sungai Penuh

Seismic swarm PS20101025.1 was recorded in a region 174 km southwest of Sungai Penuh, Indonesia, beginning at 14:42 on 25 October 2010 and concluding at 04:33 on 27 October 2010. Over 37 hours and 50 minutes, the swarm comprised 14 earthquakes, providing a clear example of clustered seismic activity along the Sunda subduction zone.

The sequence initiated with a magnitude 7.8 event at 20 km depth. Subsequent events included a magnitude 5.0 at 25 km depth, followed by a magnitude 6.3 at 26 km, a magnitude 5.7 at 31 km, and additional shocks ranging from magnitude 4.8 to 5.9 at depths between 4 km and 32 km. The final recorded event was a magnitude 5.0 at 10 km depth. These occurrences illustrate a rapid succession of ruptures typical of swarm behavior, where energy release occurs through multiple moderate to large events rather than a single mainshock-aftershock pattern.

This swarm aligns with the tectonic setting of western Indonesia, where the Indo-Australian plate subducts beneath the Eurasian plate along the Sunda megathrust. The area experiences frequent seismic activity due to the oblique convergence and associated strike-slip faulting along the Sumatran fault system. Depths in the swarm, mostly between 10 km and 32 km, are consistent with interface and intraslab seismicity in this convergent margin.

Historical data since 2000 indicate eight swarms in the vicinity, with notable clusters in 2007 (seven events) and 2008 (one event). These episodes highlight recurring swarm patterns that may reflect fluid migration or stress transfer along the subduction interface. The 2010 swarm occurred in proximity to a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on 25 October 2010, centered 215 km southwest of Sungai Penuh and 34 km from the swarm epicentral area, underscoring the region's capacity for significant seismic release.

Such swarms contribute to understanding precursory activity and aftershock sequences in subduction environments. Monitoring these events aids in refining hazard assessments for nearby populations on Sumatra.

References
SeismoSight internal swarm classification records.
USGS earthquake catalog for regional tectonics and historical events.