The Great Sumatra Fault

The Great Sumatra Fault is a major geological feature running along the western side of Indonesia’s Sumatra island. It’s a long, active earthquake fault formed where two tectonic plates—the Indo-Australian Plate and the Eurasian Plate—slide past each other. This movement causes the earth to shake periodically, leading to earthquakes. The fault is complex, with many segments that can produce significant seismic events. Understanding it helps scientists assess earthquake risks for the region, which is densely populated and vulnerable to natural disaster impacts.