Worried about Earthquakes in Bali?

(4/9/2005)

In a story carried on April 10, 2005 in The Washington Post and on www.newsday.com, Michael Blanpied, the associate coordinator of the U.S. Geologic Survey's Earthquake Hazard Program has this to say about earthquakes and Indonesia:

• The March 28 earthquake that claimed 1,300 people off Sumatra's west coast was a "well-anticipated" event that was not predictable within the limits of technology as to exact time, place and magnitude.

• Geologist have three areas of current concern in Indonesia – the Sunda Trench boundary which follows the coast of Sumatra, another fault line that bisects north Sumatra, and a subterranean fault near Banda Aceh.

• The two most recent "great" earthquakes that shook western Indonesia on December 26, 2004, and March 28, 2005, had "no notable impact on Java, Bali or Lombok" – home to the majority of Indonesia’s major tourist spots.

• While there is "good precedence" of more shocks along the same fault line near Sumatra there is not sufficient information to say one will hit again soon.

• "There might be some shaking on Java" if another quake occurs, Blanpied said, but there is no evidence that another earthquake would "seriously threaten" destinations on Java, Bali and Lombok.