M8.1 earthquake near Gorontalo, Gorontalo
31711 d ago · 21 Dec 1939, 21:00 UTC 1939 Sulawesi Earthquake
What happened
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck 1939 Sulawesi Earthquake on 21 Dec 1939, 21:00 UTC at a depth of 150 km.
Earthquakes of this size are classed as Great. Can cause severe damage across hundreds of kilometres and may trigger tsunamis. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.
The nearest town in our records is Gorontalo, about 68 km away in Gorontalo, Indonesia.
Timeline
First reported by USGS
16 Oct 2026, 20:46 UTC
Community
Did you feel it?
Nearby in the last 30 days
- 4.4
M4.4 earthquake near Bitung, North Sulawesi
72 km deep
Moderate - 4.6
M4.6 earthquake - 122 km SE of Bitung, Indonesia
49 km deep
Moderate - 5.2
M5.2 earthquake - 152 km W of Gorontalo, Indonesia
111 km deep
Strong - 5.2
M5.2 earthquake - 117 km SE of Bitung, Indonesia
40 km deep
Strong - 4.7
M4.7 earthquake - 22 km WNW of Manado, Indonesia
140 km deep
Moderate - 4.6
M4.6 earthquake - 45 km ENE of Luwuk, Indonesia
116 km deep
Moderate - 4.9
M4.9 earthquake - 41 km WNW of Luwuk, Indonesia
10 km deep
Moderate