Gempa Magnitudo 7 Di Maluku, Pemerintah Daerah Belum Terima Laporan Terusakan

TERNATE - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of North Maluku Province (Malut) has yet to receive reports of damage due to the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that rocked Melonguane District, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday at 13.06 WIB, which was felt in North Maluku.

"The BPBD has not received any reports of damage caused by the earthquake that rocked North Sulawesi which was felt in North Maluku and had panicked residents," said Head of BPBD Malut Fehby Alting to Antara, Wednesday, January 18.

According to him, until now his party has not received reports of damage caused by the earthquake, even though the earthquake was felt on Morotai Island and other regencies/cities in North Maluku.

Fehby appealed to the public not to panic but remain vigilant. "People must remain vigilant against potential aftershocks," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of BMKG Class III Ternate Andri Wijaya when confirmed stated that the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.1 on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 13.06.14 WIB, at 2.80 LU.127.11 East Longitude, 141 km southeast of Melonguane, North Sulawesi, with a depth of 64 km.

He said the earthquake was felt up to Minahasa, Manado, North Minahasa, Southeast Minahasa, South Minahasa, Bitung, Tomohon, Ternate, Sofifi, Banggai Islands, East Halmahera, Bolaang Mongondow, East Bolaang Mongondow, South Bolaang Mongondow, West Halmahera, North Halmahera, Central Halmahera III MMI, Talaud, Sangihe Islands, Sitaro Islands, Tidore, and Taliabu IV Island Regency.

Data from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) states that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 64 km, and was felt in the cities of Gorontalo, Minahasa, Manado, North Minahasa, Southeast Minahasa, South Minahasa, Bitung, Tomohon, and Sofifi, North Maluku.

BMKG also said that this large enough earthquake did not have the potential for a tsunami. However, the public is asked to be aware of aftershocks.