Cluster Analysis of Earthquakes on the Island of Sumatera in 2024 Using the DBSCAN Method

Abstract

Earthquakes are one of the most destructive and unpredictable natural disasters. Sumatera Island, being located along the Semangko Fault, typically experiences seismic movement due to contact between the Indo-Australian plate and the Eurasian plate. In this study, the DBSCAN method classifies earthquake incidents in Sumatera in 2024 into magnitude and depth categories. The data set, collected by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), includes 163 earthquake events that occurred in Sumatera Island during 2024. The clustering process identified two main clusters: one representing deep earthquakes in inland areas and another consisting of shallow earthquakes along the western offshore region, near the megathrust zone. The Silhouette Coefficient was used to verify the clustering outcome, and the result was 0,58, which verifies a good formation of clusters. These findings provide insights into seismic patterns in Sumatera and can support disaster mitigation efforts.