Location:

Magnitude:

7.1

Time:

24 Feb 2001 07:23:48

Depth:

35.0

M 7.0+:

M 7.4; 127 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia; (1 Apr 2026) (12km from the earthquake)
M 7.1; 141 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia; (14 Nov 2019) (43km from the earthquake)
M 7.1; 155 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia; (15 Nov 2014) (75km from the earthquake)
M 7.5; 126 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia; (21 Jan 2007) (23km from the earthquake)

There are 20 swarms found nearby.

2001

PS20010225.1(9.2km)

24 Feb

16 hours

5 earthquakes

PS20010226.1(23.9km)

26 Feb

12 hours

5 earthquakes

PS20010827.1(25.9km)

26 Aug

1 day 19 hours

9 earthquakes

2007

PS20070121.1(22.0km)

21 Jan

3 days 13 hours

42 earthquakes

PS20070127.1(12.7km)

26 Jan

1 day 17 hours

7 earthquakes

2014

PS20141115.1(66.1km)

15 Nov

8 hours

8 earthquakes

PS20141126.1(68.8km)

25 Nov

1 day 0 hours

8 earthquakes

PS20141221.1(98.8km)

21 Dec

2 hours

5 earthquakes

2019

S20190708.1(95.1km)

7 Jul

1 day 21 hours

44 earthquakes

PS20190708.1(64.3km)

8 Jul

21 hours

5 earthquakes

PS20191114.1(35.1km)

14 Nov

1 day 7 hours

29 earthquakes

S20191114.2(52.8km)

14 Nov

2 days 8 hours

77 earthquakes

2026

PS20260402.1(9.2km)

1 Apr

2 days 2 hours

23 earthquakes

S20260402.1(20.6km)

1 Apr

12 days 18 hours

397 earthquakes

S20260402.4(9.2km)

1 Apr

11 days 20 hours

228 earthquakes

S20260402.3(16.9km)

2 Apr

5 days 1 hours

114 earthquakes

S20260402.2(18.5km)

2 Apr

5 days 5 hours

150 earthquakes

S20260402.5(30.9km)

2 Apr

8 days 13 hours

107 earthquakes

S20260403.1(12.4km)

2 Apr

2 days 8 hours

57 earthquakes

S20260404.1(4.9km)

3 Apr

1 day 10 hours

43 earthquakes

AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Activity Near Ternate, Indonesia: The 2001 M7.1 Earthquake and Regional Tectonics

On 24 February 2001 at 07:23 UTC, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck 137 km west-northwest of Ternate, Indonesia, at a depth of 35 km. This event occurred within the tectonically complex Molucca Sea region, part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where multiple plate boundaries converge. The area's geology is dominated by the Molucca Sea Collision Zone, involving interactions between the Philippine Sea Plate, the Sunda Plate, and fragments of the Australian Plate. Subduction along the Halmahera and Sangihe arcs drives frequent seismicity, with intermediate-depth events common due to slab interactions.

Ternate lies on the island of Halmahera in North Maluku province. The regional crust reflects a history of arc volcanism and collision, producing the active volcanoes of the region alongside seismic hazards. Historical records indicate that strong earthquakes have repeatedly affected the area, often with similar mechanisms involving thrust faulting at depths of 20–50 km.

Since 2000, several significant events have occurred near the 2001 epicenter. These include an M7.4 earthquake on 1 April 2026 located 127 km WNW of Ternate, an M7.1 on 14 November 2019 at 141 km NW, an M7.1 on 15 November 2014 at 155 km NW, an M7.5 on 21 January 2007 at 126 km WNW, and the M7.1 of 24 February 2001 itself. The close spacing of these epicenters underscores persistent strain accumulation along the plate boundaries.

Such activity aligns with the broader tectonic framework of eastern Indonesia, where oblique convergence produces both shallow crustal and deeper intraslab earthquakes. Depths around 35 km, as recorded in 2001, typically correspond to the interface between subducting slabs and overriding crust. Monitoring by agencies such as the USGS and BMKG continues to track patterns that inform hazard assessment for nearby populations and infrastructure.

References

USGS Earthquake Catalog (earthquake.usgs.gov)
Global CMT Catalog (globalcmt.org)
BMKG Earthquake Data (inatews.bmkg.go.id)