Yogyakarta Earthquake Becomes A Subduction Zone Implementation Still Active

Earthquake illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - An earthquake centered in Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta, is a reminder of the existence of a subduction zone that is still active in the southern region of Java Island.

Head of the Earthquake and Tsunami Center of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Daryono explained that the active subduction zone not only caused an earthquake, but also a tsunami that hit the southern region of Java Island.

"Tonight's earthquake is an alarm that reminds us that the subduction zone in South Java is still active," said Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center Daryono in a press conference quoting Antara.

According to him, tsunami historical records in the south of Java Island have occurred eight times with details of 1818, 1840, 1859, 1904, 1921, 1957, 1994 in Banyuwangi, and 2006 in Pangandaran.

"This is an important note related to the potential and dangers of earthquakes and tsunamis in the south of Yogyakarta and south of Java in general," said Daryono.

He further said that Yogyakarta is an active and complex systemic area because it has potential earthquake sources sourced from land and sea.

From the sea, there is a subduction zone that has the potential for earthquakes to reach 8.7 magnitudes. Meanwhile, on land there is a compact fault that is quite active and has a magnitude of up to 6.6 magnitudes.

"If we look at history since 1800, the megathrust zone in Yogyakarta has triggered an earthquake 12 times. The last earthquake was on September 2, 2009, which had a magnitude of 7.8 in the southern region," concluded Daryono.

Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that an earthquake had occurred centered in the Indian Ocean region south of Yogyakarta at 19.57 WIB.

BMKG initially recorded the earthquake measuring 6.4 magnitude and a depth of 25 kilometers, then its strength was updated to 6.0 magnitude with a depth of 67 kilometers.

The destructive earthquake had an intensity scale of IV to II felt by residents living in Bantul, Klaten, Banjarnegara, and Bandung.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the earthquake caused 93 houses to be damaged with mild to moderate levels spread across Yogyakarta, East Java, and Central Java.

The impact of the earthquake shocks damaged a number of public facilities, such as places of worship, schools, governments, health and electricity networks.

The minor damage to worship facilities is one unit and the electricity network is in Kebumen, Central Java.

Meanwhile, in Yogyakarta, there is one school unit damaged and five government facilities in Gunung Kidul, one educational facility unit in Bantul, and one health facility unit damaged in Kulon Progo.

As for the damage in Pacitan Regency, there were four office units and two school units.