An undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck off the coast of Indonesia’s West Java province late Saturday night, shaking buildings and rattling residents across several provinces, including the capital city of Jakarta. Authorities reported no immediate damage or casualties and did not issue a tsunami warning.
According to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquake occurred at 11:29 p.m. local time (16:29 GMT) with the epicenter located 151 kilometers southwest of Garut Regency at a depth of 10 kilometers beneath the seabed.
The tremors were felt strongly in West Java’s cities of Sukabumi and Tasikmalaya, registering at IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale, indicating light shaking. In Bandung, the provincial capital, residents experienced III to IV MMI levels of shaking.
The quake’s impact extended beyond West Java, with reports of tremors in Jakarta and the provinces of Banten, Central Java, Yogyakarta, and East Java. In Jakarta, many residents took to social media to share their experiences of buildings swaying and objects shaking.
Despite the widespread shaking, the BMKG confirmed that the earthquake was unlikely to trigger a tsunami due to its depth and undersea location. The agency continues to monitor the situation and has advised residents to remain vigilant in case of aftershocks.
Indonesia, an archipelagic country of more than 17,000 islands, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area known for its intense seismic and volcanic activity caused by the collision of tectonic plates. As a result, Indonesia frequently experiences earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis.
In recent years, the country has invested in improving its earthquake detection and tsunami warning systems following devastating natural disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake and tsunami.
Authorities have urged residents to stay calm and follow guidance from official sources in the event of further seismic activity.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
