Measuring 7.5 on the moment magnitude scale and having a depth of 20 km (12 mi), it caused severe damage on the island.

The oceanic crust of the Pacific plate subducts obliquely beneath New Guinea and nearby islands along the New Britain Trench and Manokwari Trough.

The Sorong, Koor, Ransiki and Yapen faults are the largest structures forming the shear zone.

Seismologist Emile A. Okal estimated that the rupture produced up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) of displacement on an east-southeast–west-northwest fault.

[10] A cluster of aftershocks occurred north of the mainshock, at Pandaidori, displayed reverse faulting.

[6] Despite being a strike-slip earthquake, slip of up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) was sufficient to generate a moderate tsunami near the coastline.

The Indonesian Minister of Home Affairs appointed the Governor of Irian Jaya to respond immediately to the affected area.