BMKG: NTT Earthquake Magnitude 7.7 Due to the Fault Rising on the Back Arc of Flores

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that the magnitude 7.7 earthquake that shook East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday morning was caused by the Flores back arc fault.

"This is a mechanism of earthquakes caused by the back arc fault of Flores," said the Director of Earthquake and Tsunami of the BMKG, Wijayanto, at a press conference in Jakarta, Saturday, August 15.

According to him, this fault has the potential to cause earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.8 to 7.9.

"This 7.7 magnitude earthquake behind the Flores arc has the potential for an earthquake with a maximum of 7.8 - 7.9. Today it has released 7.7," said Wijayanto as quoted by ANTARA.

He said that in 1992, there was a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that caused severe damage at that time.

"From the history, in 1992 with a magnitude of 7.5. This was also an extraordinary damage at that time. So, this has been more than 30 years, it has happened again. Later we will continue to monitor the activity of the aftershocks," said Wijayanto.

BMKG has declared the tsunami early warning ended at 07.30 WIB.

His party will continue to monitor the activity of aftershocks and provide updates to the public.

"We have ended (the early warning of the tsunami), but of course we will continue to monitor the high activity of sea level that will be recorded at our stations," said Wijayanto.