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Total Categories: 7
The epicenter of the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake was located in Palu city.
Answer: False
The epicenter of the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake was located in the Donggala Regency of Central Sulawesi, approximately 70 kilometers north of Palu city.
The Palu-Koro fault is primarily a thrust fault responsible for vertical displacement.
Answer: False
The Palu-Koro fault is characterized as a left-lateral strike-slip fault, primarily accommodating horizontal movement between tectonic blocks in Sulawesi, rather than a thrust fault responsible for significant vertical displacement.
Initial magnitude estimates for the main earthquake varied between 7.5 Mw and 7.7 Mw.
Answer: True
Initial reports from agencies like the USGS and BMKG stated the mainshock magnitude as 7.7 Mw, with later revisions placing it at 7.5 Mw or 7.6 Mw by other sources.
The earthquake's rupture extended approximately 150 kilometers along the Palu-Koro fault.
Answer: True
Geodetic evidence suggests that approximately 150 kilometers of the Palu-Koro fault ruptured during the main earthquake event.
The Palu-Koro fault has a slow slip rate of less than 5 mm per year.
Answer: False
The Palu-Koro fault has an estimated slip rate of 30-40 mm per year, which is considered significant for a strike-slip fault.
The phenomenon of supershear rupture, where fault rupture exceeds shear wave speed, was definitively ruled out for this earthquake.
Answer: False
Seismic data analysis suggested the possibility of a supershear rupture, where the fault rupture propagates at speeds exceeding the shear wave velocity, indicating this phenomenon was not definitively ruled out.
Which of the following locations was identified as the epicenter of the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake?
Answer: Donggala Regency
The epicenter of the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake was located in the Donggala Regency of Central Sulawesi, approximately 70 kilometers north of Palu city.
What was the approximate magnitude of the main Sulawesi earthquake according to the USGS revised estimate?
Answer: 7.5 Mw
While initial estimates varied, the USGS later revised the magnitude of the main Sulawesi earthquake to 7.5 Mw. Other sources reported it as 7.6 Mw or initially as 7.7 Mw.
The Palu-Koro fault, associated with the earthquake, is characterized as what type of fault?
Answer: A left-lateral strike-slip fault.
The Palu-Koro fault is identified as a left-lateral strike-slip fault, which is characterized by predominantly horizontal movement along the fault line.
What was the estimated length of the fault rupture during the main Sulawesi earthquake?
Answer: Approximately 150 kilometers
Geodetic evidence indicates that the rupture during the main Sulawesi earthquake extended approximately 150 kilometers along the Palu-Koro fault.
What unusual characteristic of the rupture propagation was suggested by seismic data analysis?
Answer: Rupture propagation at speeds exceeding the S-wave velocity (supershear).
Seismic data analysis suggested that the rupture propagated at speeds exceeding the S-wave velocity, indicating the potential for a supershear rupture event.
How many aftershocks with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater were recorded within the first 24 hours after the main earthquake?
Answer: Exactly 14
Within the first 24 hours following the main Sulawesi earthquake, 14 aftershocks with a magnitude of 5.0 or greater were recorded.
What was the estimated slip rate of the Palu-Koro fault per year?
Answer: 30-40 mm/year
The Palu-Koro fault, a significant left-lateral strike-slip fault, has an estimated slip rate of 30 to 40 millimeters per year.
The earthquake occurred on September 28, 2018. What was the magnitude of the largest foreshock that occurred earlier on the same day?
Answer: 6.1 Mw
Earlier on September 28, 2018, a significant foreshock with a magnitude of 6.1 Mw (according to USGS) occurred, preceding the main earthquake.
What was the primary function of the Palu-Koro fault mentioned in the source?
Answer: To accommodate tectonic plate movement between blocks in Sulawesi.
The Palu-Koro fault serves as a significant geological structure that accommodates the tectonic plate movement between different blocks within the island of Sulawesi.
The tsunami waves that struck Palu were estimated to be consistently between 4 to 7 meters high.
Answer: False
While initial estimates by BMKG suggested wave heights between 4 to 7 meters in some areas, reports indicate that actual tsunami waves reached up to 10.7 meters in Donggala and over 2 meters in Palu, exceeding initial predictions.
Palu's geographical location at the end of a narrow bay helped mitigate the tsunami's impact.
Answer: False
Palu's location at the end of a narrow bay likely intensified the tsunami's impact by funneling the waves, amplifying their force and leading to more severe inundation rather than mitigating it.
The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG) initially estimated tsunami wave heights to be potentially over 10 meters.
Answer: False
The BMKG initially estimated tsunami wave heights between 4 to 7 meters. Actual observed waves, particularly in Donggala, were reported to be higher, reaching up to 10.7 meters.
Why did the tsunami cause particularly severe damage in Palu?
Answer: The city's location at the end of a narrow bay intensified the tsunami's force.
Palu's geographical position at the terminus of a narrow bay acted to funnel the tsunami waves, amplifying their destructive power as they reached the city.
What was the estimated height of the tallest tsunami waves reported in Donggala Regency?
Answer: 10.7 meters
Reports indicated that the tsunami waves reached an estimated height of up to 10.7 meters in the Donggala Regency.
Which statement best describes the initial BMKG tsunami warning predictions compared to the actual waves?
Answer: Predictions were significantly lower than the actual waves observed.
The initial BMKG tsunami warning predictions for wave heights were significantly lower than the actual waves observed, particularly in areas like Donggala where heights exceeded 10 meters.
Soil liquefaction was a minor factor in the damage caused by the 2018 Sulawesi disaster.
Answer: False
Soil liquefaction was a major factor, causing significant destruction in areas like Petobo and Balaroa near Palu, where the ground lost strength and behaved like a liquid, leading to subsidence and engulfing structures.
What was the primary geological phenomenon responsible for the widespread destruction of homes in the Petobo and Balaroa areas near Palu?
Answer: Soil liquefaction causing the ground to behave like liquid mud.
The widespread destruction in Petobo and Balaroa was primarily attributed to soil liquefaction, a process where saturated ground loses its strength and behaves like a liquid during seismic events, causing subsidence and engulfing structures.
The earthquake caused significant damage to agricultural land, affecting over 9,000 hectares.
Answer: True
The combined effects of the earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction resulted in damage to approximately 9,718 hectares of agricultural land across Palu, Sigi, and Donggala.
The earthquake and tsunami caused damage to approximately 70,000 houses.
Answer: True
More than 70,000 houses were reported damaged or destroyed by the combined effects of the earthquake and tsunami, leading to widespread displacement.
What was the estimated number of people affected in total by the earthquake and tsunami?
Answer: Approximately 2.4 million people
According to disaster management authorities, approximately 2.4 million people were affected by the combined earthquake and tsunami event.
What was the estimated total number of deaths resulting from the earthquake and tsunami?
Answer: Around 4,340
The official estimated death toll from the combined earthquake and tsunami event is approximately 4,340 fatalities.
How many houses were reported damaged or destroyed in total by the earthquake and tsunami?
Answer: More than 70,000
The combined earthquake and tsunami caused damage to over 70,000 houses, leading to significant displacement and a severe housing crisis in the affected regions.
Over 500 wireless communication towers were undamaged by the earthquake.
Answer: False
The earthquake caused significant disruption to communication infrastructure, with reports indicating that over 500 wireless communication towers were damaged, leading to widespread blackouts and communication failures.
The Kuning Ponulele Bridge, destroyed in the disaster, was the second arch bridge built in Indonesia.
Answer: False
The Kuning Ponulele Bridge, also known as Palu IV Bridge, was destroyed in the disaster. It held the distinction of being the first arch bridge built in Indonesia, not the second.
The disaster significantly impacted the prison system in Donggala, leading to the escape of nearly all inmates.
Answer: False
The Donggala Penitentiary's walls collapsed due to the earthquake, and over half of its inmates escaped. While significant, it was not 'nearly all' inmates, and the escape was a consequence of structural damage and subsequent chaos.
What was the estimated economic damage caused by the combined disasters of the earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction?
Answer: Approximately Rp 24.6 trillion (US$1.71 billion)
The total estimated economic damage resulting from the earthquake, tsunami, and liquefaction was approximately Rp 24.6 trillion (US$1.71 billion), with Palu city accounting for the majority of this figure.
Which of the following was NOT reported as a collapsed structure in Palu due to the disaster?
Answer: The Indonesian Presidential Palace
While Antapura Hospital, the Roa-Roa Hotel, and the Mutiara SIS Al-Jufrie Airport Control Tower were reported as collapsed or severely damaged, the Indonesian Presidential Palace was not listed among the structures destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami.
What happened to the Donggala Penitentiary following the earthquake?
Answer: Its walls collapsed, and a significant number of inmates escaped.
The Donggala Penitentiary sustained severe damage, with its walls collapsing, leading to the escape of over half of its inmates amidst the ensuing chaos.
The tsunami detectors in Palu functioned correctly and issued timely alarms.
Answer: False
The tsunami detectors in Palu were damaged by the earthquake and failed to transmit signals, meaning official tsunami alarms were not activated, leaving many residents unaware of the impending danger.
The Indonesian government decided to bury identified victims in mass graves primarily to save space.
Answer: False
The primary reason cited for the government's decision to bury identified victims in mass graves was to prevent the potential spread of diseases, given the scale of the disaster and the number of deceased.
The BMKG faced criticism for lifting the tsunami warning before the waves had struck Palu.
Answer: False
The BMKG faced criticism primarily because they lifted the tsunami warning after the waves had already impacted the coast, leading to confusion about the timing of the warning system's effectiveness.
Telecommunication companies like Telkom Indonesia provided free WiFi and communication services in affected areas.
Answer: True
Telecommunication providers, including Telkom Indonesia and Indosat Ooredoo, offered crucial support by providing free WiFi and SMS services to help affected individuals connect with their families and access information.
The Indonesian government initially denied reports of looting in the disaster areas.
Answer: True
Initially, some government officials and the President refuted claims of widespread looting. However, the situation evolved, and authorities later ordered police action against looters.
Aid delivery was smooth due to undamaged infrastructure and sufficient airport capacity.
Answer: False
Aid delivery faced significant challenges due to widespread destruction of roads and the limited capacity of Palu's airport to handle the influx of materials, causing considerable delays.
What was the primary reason cited for the Indonesian government's decision to bury identified victims in mass graves?
Answer: To prevent the potential spread of diseases.
The Indonesian government decided to bury identified victims in mass graves primarily as a public health measure to prevent the potential spread of diseases following the disaster.
Which statement accurately describes the initial government response to reports of looting?
Answer: Authorities initially refuted claims of widespread looting.
Initially, authorities and the President denied widespread looting. However, the government later directed police to apprehend looters and clarified the situation regarding the taking of essential items.
What challenge did international aid delivery face due to Palu's airport?
Answer: The airport lacked the capacity to handle the large influx of materials.
Palu's airport, while operational, lacked the necessary capacity to manage the large volume of international aid materials arriving, significantly hindering the distribution process.
What was the initial emergency period declared in Central Sulawesi following the disaster?
Answer: 14 days
An initial emergency period of 14 days was declared in Central Sulawesi following the earthquake and tsunami, commencing on September 28, 2018.
The 2018 Sulawesi earthquake occurred on the anniversary of the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake.
Answer: False
While both were significant Indonesian earthquakes, the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake did not occur on the anniversary of the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake. The Sulawesi event occurred on September 28, 2018.
The main Sulawesi earthquake occurred during the morning commute.
Answer: False
The main earthquake struck at 18:02 WITA (6:02 PM local time), which is during the evening rush hour, not the morning commute.
The 2018 Sulawesi earthquake was the deadliest earthquake worldwide in that year.
Answer: True
The 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami event was indeed the deadliest earthquake worldwide in 2018, surpassing other significant seismic events that year.
The earthquake occurred on the 40th anniversary of Palu city.
Answer: True
The main earthquake struck on September 28, 2018, which coincided with the 40th anniversary of Palu city. A festival was being held at the time, drawing many people to the coastal areas.
The earthquake reached an intensity of MMI X (Extreme) in some parts of Palu City.
Answer: True
The earthquake reached an intensity of MMI X (Extreme) in certain areas of Palu City, indicating severe ground shaking and widespread structural damage.
How did the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake rank in terms of deadliness compared to other global earthquakes in the same year?
Answer: It was the deadliest earthquake worldwide in 2018.
The 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami event was the deadliest earthquake globally in that year, surpassing other significant seismic events such as the Lombok earthquake.
What significant events were occurring in Palu at the time of the main earthquake?
Answer: The city's 40th anniversary celebration and a festival.
The main earthquake occurred on the 40th anniversary of Palu city, during a time when a festival, the Palu Nomoni Festival, was being held, drawing many people to the coastal areas.
The earthquake's tremors were felt as far away as which Malaysian city?
Answer: Tawau
The seismic tremors from the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake were felt across a wide area, including as far away as Tawau in Malaysia.
The event was the deadliest earthquake in Indonesia since which previous event?
Answer: The 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake.
The 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami was the deadliest earthquake to strike Indonesia since the 2006 Yogyakarta earthquake.