Friday Morning Earthquake M 5.7 Guncang Waropen Papua Feels In Nabire And Enarotali

Earthquake illustration (ANTARA)

JAKARTA An earthquake with a magnitude (M) of 5.7 rocked the Waropen area, Papua, on Friday, October 3 at 05.45 WIB. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the epicenter was on land, about 66 kilometers southwest of Waropen, with a depth of 43 kilometers.

Earthquake shocks were felt quite strongly in a number of surrounding areas. Based on a provisional report, the intensity of the earthquake was recorded on the MMI IV V scale in Nabire and MMI III in Enarotali. The tremors that occurred made some residents rush out of their homes to save themselves. Until this news was revealed, there had been no official reports of casualties or damage to buildings.

The BMKG ensured that this earthquake did not have the potential to cause a tsunami, but asked the public to remain aware of the possibility of aftershocks. The Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center, Daryono, emphasized the importance of vigilance, especially for residents living in areas with vulnerable building structures.

As a disaster management measure, the community is advised to immediately conduct an examination of the condition of their respective houses or buildings. If there are cracks on the walls or structures that are weakened, it is advisable not to occupy the building before it is declared safe. Residents are also asked to ensure that the evacuation route around the house is free of obstacles so that it can be used at any time.

BMKG reminded residents not to be provoked by false information or hoaxes related to disasters. Official information can only be obtained through BMKG channels such as the bmkg.go.id website, the InfoBMKG application, and the official social media @infoBMKG.

In addition, the people around Waropen are advised to prepare disaster preparedness bags containing basic needs, important documents, flashlights, medicines, and other emergency equipment. Residents also need to turn off electricity, gas, and water when leaving their homes to prevent fire or leakage.

For residents living in a multilevel building, BMKG advised not to use elevators during the earthquake and to choose an emergency ladder as an alternative to evacuation. Meanwhile, schools, offices, and places of business are advised to hold evacuation exercises again so that people are used to dealing with emergency situations.

BNPB together with the local BPBD are still coordinating with local governments to monitor field conditions and conduct rapid assessments of possible impacts of damage. Further developments regarding post-earthquake situations will be conveyed regularly.