BMKG Reveals the Cause of the M 5.8 Sukabumi Earthquake Which Was Felt As Far As Jakarta

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) revealed the cause of the earthquake with a magnitude (M) of 5.8 that rocked Sukabumi, West Java, Thursday 8 December morning.

Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center Daryono explained, the earthquake in Sukabumi was a medium-sized earthquake, when viewed from the location of the epicenter and the depth of the hypocenter. This earthquake was caused by a fault.

"This earthquake was caused by deformation/fracture of rock in the Indo-Australian Plate which is popularly known as an intraslab earthquake or Benioff earthquake. The results of the analysis of the source mechanism show that the earthquake has a mechanism of upward movement (thrust fault)," said Daryono in his statement, Thursday, December 8.

This earthquake had an impact and was felt in the Rancaekek area with an intensity scale of IV MMI, which means that many people in the house will feel it during the day.

Then, the Cianjur, Lembang, Bogor, Bandung, Pangandaran, Padalarang, Pamoyanan, and Sumedang areas with an intensity scale of III MMI, which means that vibrations are felt in the house. Feel the vibration as if a truck passed.

Then, the Cisolok, Sumur, Sukabumi, Jakarta, Garut, Bekasi, Bandar Lampung and South Tangerang areas with an intensity scale of II MMI, which means that the vibrations are felt by several people, light hanging objects sway.

"The modeling results show that this earthquake has no potential for a tsunami," he said.

BMKG reported that a M 6.1 earthquake which was updated to M 5.8 struck Sukabumi City on Thursday 8 December, at 7.50 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB).

The epicenter of the earthquake was located 39 km southwest of Sukabumi City or the epicenter at coordinates 7.09 degrees south latitude, 106.95 degrees east longitude. The vibrations were felt in Bekasi, DKI Jakarta, and Depok districts.