Location:

Magnitude:

7.1

Time:

14 Nov 2019 16:17:40

Depth:

33.0

M 7.0+:

M 7.4; 127 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia; (1 Apr 2026) (50km from the earthquake)
M 7.1; 155 km NW of Ternate, Indonesia; (15 Nov 2014) (32km from the earthquake)
M 7.5; 126 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia; (21 Jan 2007) (63km from the earthquake)
M 7.1; 137 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia; (24 Feb 2001) (43km from the earthquake)

There are 20 swarms found nearby.

2001

PS20010225.1(36.6km)

24 Feb

16 hours

5 earthquakes

PS20010226.1(19.4km)

26 Feb

12 hours

5 earthquakes

PS20010827.1(61.4km)

26 Aug

1 day 19 hours

9 earthquakes

2007

PS20070121.1(65.1km)

21 Jan

3 days 13 hours

42 earthquakes

PS20070127.1(45.6km)

26 Jan

1 day 17 hours

7 earthquakes

2014

PS20141115.1(23.1km)

15 Nov

8 hours

8 earthquakes

PS20141126.1(25.8km)

25 Nov

1 day 0 hours

8 earthquakes

PS20141221.1(55.7km)

21 Dec

2 hours

5 earthquakes

2019

PS20190106.1(96.4km)

6 Jan

20 hours

8 earthquakes

S20190107.1(80.7km)

6 Jan

1 day 14 hours

33 earthquakes

PS20191114.1(11.7km)

14 Nov

1 day 7 hours

29 earthquakes

S20191114.2(9.8km)

14 Nov

2 days 8 hours

77 earthquakes

2026

PS20260402.1(47.0km)

1 Apr

2 days 2 hours

23 earthquakes

S20260402.1(39.3km)

1 Apr

12 days 18 hours

397 earthquakes

S20260402.4(51.7km)

1 Apr

11 days 20 hours

228 earthquakes

S20260402.3(27.2km)

2 Apr

5 days 1 hours

114 earthquakes

S20260402.2(26.4km)

2 Apr

5 days 5 hours

150 earthquakes

S20260402.5(59.2km)

2 Apr

8 days 13 hours

107 earthquakes

S20260403.1(50.1km)

2 Apr

2 days 8 hours

57 earthquakes

S20260404.1(48.0km)

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: A Review of Recent Major Events

Ternate, located in North Maluku province, Indonesia, sits within one of the world's most tectonically active regions. The Molucca Sea Collision Zone, where the Philippine Sea Plate converges with the Sunda Plate and smaller microplates, drives frequent large earthquakes. This complex boundary produces both shallow crustal events and deeper intraslab seismicity, with the November 2019 M7.1 earthquake exemplifying the hazards.

The M7.1 event struck at 16:17 UTC on 14 November 2019, with an epicenter 141 km northwest of Ternate at a depth of 33 km. Its location aligns with the broader pattern of northwest-trending seismicity in the region. Strong shaking was reported across Halmahera and surrounding islands, though detailed damage assessments remain limited in public records.

Historical data since 2000 reveal a persistent sequence of M7+ earthquakes clustered within roughly 150 km of Ternate. Notable events include the M7.4 on 1 April 2026 located 127 km west-northwest, the M7.1 on 15 November 2014 at 155 km northwest, the M7.5 on 21 January 2007 at 126 km west-northwest, and the M7.1 on 24 February 2001 at 137 km west-northwest. These events demonstrate recurrence intervals on the order of several years, consistent with the high strain accumulation rates in the Molucca Sea.

Geologically, the area features volcanic arcs and back-arc basins formed by ongoing subduction and collision. The Halmahera Arc lies east of the main collision zone, while active faults accommodate lateral motion. Depths around 30–50 km for many of these events suggest rupture within the downgoing slab or at the plate interface. The 33 km depth of the 2019 shock places it in the upper portion of this seismogenic zone.

Regional tectonics also produce tsunami risk when vertical seafloor displacement occurs, although none of the listed events generated significant tsunamis. Continued monitoring by the Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) and international networks remains essential for hazard mitigation in this densely populated volcanic island setting.

References

USGS Earthquake Catalog BMKG seismic reports Global CMT catalog