On September 30, 2009 at 05.15 PM a 7.6 SR earthquake (measured by National Body of Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics) or a 7.9 SR (by US Geological Survey) struck
The Government has revised the official number of dead to 1,117 as this now includes the numbers of missing people that have not been found since the 30 September earthquake that wreaked havoc to
One of the examples was the earthquake that shook Padang Panjang 83 years ago. The earthquake killed more than 354 people and knocked down thousands of houses. The earthquake also destroyed the areas around Singkarak Lake, Bukit Tinggi, Maninjau Lake, Padang Panjang, Solok Regency, Sawah Lunto and Alahan Panjang. An aftershock also damaged several parts of Singkarak Lake (source: vivanews).
Another vigorous earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale also attacked Kerinci (Penuh Lake) 14 years ago. As a result, 84 people died, 558 people were severely injured, 1,310 people were wounded and 7 thousand houses were wrecked (source: vivanews).
Below is the history of earthquake in West Sumatra according to the Vulcanology and Disaster Mitigation Center (source: vivanews).
1. 1/10/1822
The earthquake took place in West Sumatra. There were three shakes in Padang and thunderous sound was heard underground between Talang and Merapi Mountain.
2. 26/8/1835
The earthquake hit Padang and was resulted in minor damages and cracks on buildings.
3. 5/07/1904
The location of the earthquake was Siri Sori, West Sumatra. The earthquake led to a Tsunami on Siri Sori beach.
4. 28/6/1926
The earthquake rocked Padang Panjang. More than 354 people were killed. Damages occurred in areas near Singkarak, Bukit Tinggi, Maninjau Lake, Padang Panjang, Solok Regency, Sawah Lunto and Alahan Panjang. The aftershock busted parts of Singkarak Lake. In Agam Regency (Bukit Tinggi-Bonjol), 472 houses collapsed in 25 locations, 57 people were killed and 16 people were heavily injured. In Padang Panjang, 2,383 houses crumbled and 247 people died. Several cracks were found on the ground in Padang Panjang, Kubu Krambil and Simabur.
5. 9/6/1943
A 7.6 SR-measured earthquake attacked Singkarak. There was a 60 km-long split between Singkarak and Diatas Lake. A normal split would only be 2 meters long. A road near Salayo was shifted for 2-3 meters long.
6. 8/3/1977
The earthquake hit Pasaman. 737 houses, 1 marketplace, 7 schools, 8 mosques and 3 office buildings were damaged in Sinurat. In Talu, 245 houses, 3 houses and 8 mosques were defected. There was also a 5-75 meters long ground crack.
7. 13/11/1981
Another earthquake attacked Padang measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale, resulted in wall cracks, cupboard shifts and broken window glasses in Padang and Painan.
8. 2/7/1991
The province was once again struck with a 6.1 SR-measured earthquake. Buildings in Padang were slightly damaged. The shock was felt in Padang Panjang and Singapore.
9. 7/10/1995
A 7 SR-measured earthquake shook Kerinci (Penuh River). 84 people died. 556 people experienced serious injuries and 1310 suffered from minor injuries. 7.137 houses, transportation, irrigation, religious centers, marketplaces and shops were destroyed. The liquefaction was at Penawar village, Sitinjau Laut sub district. Cracks were found on the grounds of Sebukar village, Koto Iman, Tanjung Tanah and Kayu Aro. An avalanche occurred in Benik village, southern Kerinci Lake.
10.25/01/2003
The earthquake rocked Nagari Malalak. Approximately 80 buildings were mildly damaged in Lubuk Durian, Damar, Simik Air, Jorong Paladangan Kanagarian Malalak, Koto IV sub district, Agam Regency. The damages included wallpaper rip-off and wall cracks. It was a local earthquake in which the shock was felt by Padang Panjang and Malalak.
11. 16/2/2004
A 5.6 SR-measured hit Tanah Datar. Six people died, 10 were injured, 70 houses were damaged, and there was a blackout about 30 minutes in Tanah Datar regency. Damages also occurred in Pitalak village, Rajo Mountain, Nagari Pitala, Paninggahan, Batipuh sub district, Tanah Datar regency. There was landslide on Mount Rajo, Paninjauan. Cracks were seen on the way from Mount Rajo to Padang. The shock was strongly felt in Padang, Pariaman, Padang Panjang, Bukittinggi, Solok, Sawah Lunto, Sijunjung, Agam and Batusangkar.
12. 22/2/2004
An earthquake that measures 6 on the Richter scale shook the South Coast. One people died, 1 people was seriously wounded, 5 suffered from minor injuries, 151 buildings and houses were busted in South Coast regency. A strong shock rocked Padang up to Painan. Affected areas included: Gunung Pauh village, Taratak Paneh village, Kenagarian Amping Parak, Sutra subdistrict; Nagari Surantih, Nagari Tuik, Batang Kapas subdistrict; Kapeh Panji village, Bayang subdistrict; Ampang Pulai village, Koto XI Tarusan subdistrict, Jurai IV subdistrict, Lengayang subdistrict, Ranah Pesisir subdistrict and Linggo Sari Baganti subdistrict.
13. 9/4/2004
South Coast experienced its second earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale. Several houses were cracked in the frontier areas of Padang and South Coast regency.
14. 16/8/2009
A 6.9 SR-measured earthquake shook 32 km deep below southern Siberut Island, West Sumatra. At least 7 people were injured. A strong shock was felt in Padang.
15. 30/9/2009
An earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit areas around Padang Pariaman. So far, the earthquake has reportedly killed 75 people and damaged thousands of houses. Office buildings, malls and hotels were also broken. The shock was also felt in Malaysia and Singapore.
