BMKG: Aftershocks Do Not Lead To A Major Earthquake

JAKARTA - The Coordinator for Earthquake and Tsunami Mitigation of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Daryono explained, the number of aftershocks does not mean that it will lead to a large earthquake.

"Aftershocks if they occur a lot do not lead to major earthquakes, but drop and don't happen again," said BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Mitigation Coordinator Daryono when contacted from Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Monday, January 17.

He explained that aftershocks usually have a smaller strength or magnitude than the main earthquake. Aftershocks will also get smaller and less frequent.

"So the longer it will play, the strength will decrease and it will occur less frequently until it stabilizes and returns to normal," he said.

Indonesia has recently experienced several earthquakes, namely an earthquake of magnitude 6.6, last Friday, January 14, which had an epicenter 53 kilometers southwest of Sumur in Pandeglang Regency, Banten, with a depth of 40 kilometers. The BMKG noted that up to 12.00 western Indonesia time there were 33 aftershocks after the main earthquake.

The day after, on Saturday, January 15, an earthquake of magnitude 4.1 with an epicenter 23 kilometers southeast of Bangkalan in East Java at a depth of 14 kilometers.

The earthquake then occurred again, this Monday, at 07.25 western Indonesia time, with a magnitude of 5.4 and the epicenter was in the sea 84 kilometers southwest of Bayah, Banten.

Daryono ensured that the three earthquakes were not related to each other, considering that Indonesia has many earthquake sources, which are more than 295.

"If an earthquake occurs close to each other or the time is close, it's just a coincidence, it has nothing to do with it. There is no triggering each other and there is no earthquake propagation," he said.