Magnitude 5.7 Earthquake Occurs In West Halmahera, The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency Urges Public To Be Alert

JAKARTA - An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 shook West Halmahera, North Maluku Province, on Wednesday morning at around 05:59 a.m.

As reported by Antara, Wednesday, May 5, the official website of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated the earthquake point at the coordinates 1.53 north latitude (LU), 127.19 east longitude (BT) with a depth of 133 kilometers.

The epicenter of the earthquake was in the sea 48 kilometers northwest of West Halmahera. Earthquake vibrations were felt until Bitung with a scale III Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI), Manado with III MMI, and Ternate with II MMI.

According to the BMKG, the Mercalli scale is one of the units to measure the strength of an earthquake, especially if there is no seismometer equipment at the scene.

On a scale of II, vibrations are felt by several people and light objects that are hung sway. While on a scale of III, the vibration is felt real in the house, and the vibration is felt as if a truck has passed.

On a scale of IV, the earthquake was felt by many people inside the house, outside the house, and was indicated by, among others, creaking windows or doors and sounding walls.

On a scale of V, Almost everyone felt the tremors were marked by falling objects, poles and large objects swaying.

The BMKG asked the public to remain alert to aftershocks that might occur. However, the community also does not need to worry because the earthquake has no potential for a tsunami.