Post-event field survey of 28 September 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami

Abstract

An earthquake with a magnitude of M wCombining double low line7.5 that occurred in Sulawesi, Indonesia, on 28 September 2018 triggered liquefaction and tsunamis that caused severe damage and many casualties. This paper reports the results of a post-tsunami field survey conducted by a team with members from Indonesia and Taiwan that began 13d after the earthquake. The main purpose of this survey was to measure the run-up of tsunami waves and inundation and observe the damage caused by the tsunami. Measurements were made in 18 selected sites, most in Palu Bay. The survey results show that the run-up height and inundation distance reached 10.7m in Tondo and 488m in Layana. Inundation depths of 2 to 4m were common at most sites and the highest was 8.4m in Taipa. The arrival times of the tsunami waves were quite short and different for each site, typically about 3-8min from the time of the main earthquake event. This study also describes the damage to buildings and infrastructure and coastal landslides..