Fatal Quake Hits Papua, Killing 37 People

VIVAnews – 5 years ago, today, on 6 February 2004, an earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale shook the north-west region of Papua province, killing 37 people.

According to the Indonesian Meteorological and Geophysical Agency, the earthquake's epicentre was located close to the provincial town of Nabire, which has an estimated population of about 26,000. A press release from France’s earth sciences laboratory in Strasbourg stated that it was the largest quake in the region recorded since 2000.  

Nabire, the most populous city in West Papua, was most seriously affected by the earthquake. According to eye witnesses, the quake, which was followed by a series of aftershocks, had caused numerous state and civilian buildings in Nabire to collapse, including the newly-built parliament complex and hundreds of schools across the region. The earthquake damaged several mosques, roads, and the airport as well.
 
The government estimated that the earthquake caused losses to Rp 360 billion (approx. US$36 million).