Causes

The quake was caused by a strike-slip fault, not common to cause tsunamis due to the fact that thrust usually move water up and strikes do not. Researchers believe that earth was displaced and a landslide occurred causing the tsunami.

(strike slips move side to side, versus up and down, therefore it is rare to cause a tsunami)

The location where an earthquake begins is called the epicenter and the most intense shaking's are felt near. However, vibrations can be detected hundreds or thousands of miles away. Earthquake hazards include:

• Ground motion
• Fault rupture and displacement
• Liquefaction
• Landslides and Avalanches
• Fire
• Tsunami's
• Disease

Quakes in Indonesia

Why are there so many earthquakes in Indonesia?

Well, according to worldvision.org, Indonesia is an archipelago that includes thousands of volcanic islands which are created over time as plates shift and molten rock, or magma, exerts pressure. The Southeast Asian country is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where slabs of earth's crust (tectonic plates) clash, creating earthquakes when plates shoves against one another.

Sulawesi is in the path of a triple junction- surrounded between major plates- the Australian, Philippine and Sunda (shown in map above).