A 6.5Mw earthquake strikes the Indonesian island of Java in the city of Tasikmalaya, resulting in four deaths.
2017 Java earthquake
The 2017 Java earthquake occurred on 15 December 2017 when a moment magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Java, specifically the city of Tasikmalaya on 23:47:58 West Indonesian Time in West Java, Indonesia. The earthquake struck at a depth of 91 km and was categorized as a strong but deep earthquake. It was initially registered as a 7.3 magnitude earthquake by Indonesian agencies. Widespread damage was reported across Tasikmalaya, the nearest major city to the epicentre. A tsunami warning was immediately issued by the authorities but was subsequently cancelled. Four people have been confirmed dead.
Java
Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people in mid 2024, projected to rise to 158 million at mid 2025, Java is the world's most populous island, home to approximately 56% of the Indonesian population while constituting only 7% of its land area. Indonesia's capital city, Jakarta, is on Java's northwestern coast.
Tasikmalaya
Tasikmalaya is a landlocked city in West Java, Indonesia. The city is sometimes dubbed kota santri or "the City of a Thousand Pesantrens" for its abundance of Islamic boarding schools. Located around 120 kilometres (75 mi) southeast from the provincial capital of Bandung, Tasikmalaya is passed by Indonesian National Route 3.