BMKG Confirms Tsunami Early Warning In NTT Is Over, Residents Can Return Home

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that the tsunami early warning after the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) had ended at 13.24 WITA.

Head of BMKG Dwikorita Karnawati said the tsunami early warning was ended after two hours of the earthquake and no sea level rise was detected.

"Earlier it happened at 11.20 WITA and now at 13.24 WITA, which means it has been more than two hours since the incident, and no sea level rise has been detected anymore," Dwikorita said in an online press conference, Tuesday, December 14.

"So the tsunami early warning is declared to have ended. I repeat, the tsunami early warning is declared to have ended," he added.

Dwikorita asked the local government to immediately announce the end of the tsunami early warning to the public. In addition, people can also return to their respective homes.

"We ask the local government to convey to the public that it has ended. This means that they can return to their respective places," he said.

However, BMKG asked the public to remain calm in the face of the current situation. People who want to return home, continued Dwikorita, are also advised to check their housing first to make sure the building is still habitable.

In addition, the public is still asked to be vigilant because it is predicted that several aftershocks will occur.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami early warning after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 rocked the Flores Sea, East Nusa Tenggara.

After the earthquake occurred, the people then scattered. One resident in East Flores, Larantuka, Fransiskus Tukan said, the earthquake occurred in a short duration.

"So it was felt very slowly at first but happened several times. Residents, including myself, are still calm with the strength of this small earthquake," said Frano, Francis' greeting when contacted by VOI from Jakarta, Tuesday, December 14.

However, continued Frano, the strength of the earthquake increased suddenly and made residents panic, run and scatter out of their homes. Almost in every house, residents look for a safe location by standing in the yard or city streets.

"It felt like the earthquake was big. It's like sleeping soundly. You can feel it. From a small one, slowly, suddenly it becomes big. All residents run to the yard to avoid collapsing buildings or building materials," added Frano.