BMKG: This Day's Earthquake in NTT is Due to Indo-Australian Plate Activity

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that the earthquake event that shook the North Central Timor, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) region on Tuesday afternoon, April 21, was triggered by activity in the Indo-Australian Plate collision zone.

Acting Director of Earthquakes and Tsunamis of the BMKG, Rahmat Triyono, explained that the results of the analysis of the source mechanism showed that this earthquake had a rising movement mechanism (thrust fault).

"By taking into account the location of the epicenter and the depth of the hypocenter, the earthquake that occurred is a shallow earthquake due to activity in the Indo-Australian Plate collision zone," he said in Jakarta, Tuesday, quoted by Antara.

Rahmat detailed the results of the BMKG analysis showed that the update parameter of the earthquake had a magnitude of M5.7.

The epicenter of the earthquake is located at coordinates 9.22 degrees South Latitude (LS) and 124.16 degrees East Longitude (BT), located in the sea at a distance of 54 kilometers northwest of North Central Timor at a depth of 60 kilometers.

The earthquake, which occurred at 10.17 WIB, was reported to have an impact and was felt in the Atambua area with an intensity scale of III-IV MMI, and the Maumere area with an intensity scale of III MMI, where the vibration was felt in the house as if a truck was passing.

In addition, the shock was also felt in Kupang City, Kupang Regency, Kefamenanu, Malaka, Soe, Lembata, Larantuka, Alor, and Ende, with an intensity scale of II-III MMI. The results of the modeling show that this earthquake has no potential for a tsunami.

The results of BMKG monitoring recorded one aftershock with a magnitude of M3.2 at least until 10.45.

His party appealed to the public to remain calm and not be influenced by issues that cannot be held accountable for their truth, and to avoid buildings that are cracked or damaged due to earthquakes.