Potential Tsunami Reaches NTB Due To 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake In NTT, BPBD Mataram Asks Residents Not To Panic

Chief Executive of the Mataram City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Mahfuddin Noor. (Photo: ANTARA)

MATARAM - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Mataram City, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) appealed to residents in the city to remain calm and not panic over the potential tsunami caused by an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Head of BPBD Mataram City Mahfuddin Noor said the potential for a tsunami to reach the West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) area was as released by the BMKG regarding tsunami early warnings for the Maluku, NTB, NTT, South Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi regions.

"Some areas have been asked to be on alert. However, we hope not to go to Mataram City and NTB in general," he said in Mataram, Antara, Tuesday, December 14.

Based on BMKG information, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 in NTT occurred at 10.20.11 WIB, location: 7.59 South Latitude, 122.26 East Longitude (112 km Northwest of Larantuka-NTT) with a depth of 12 kilometers.

"But Alhamdulillah, the vibration was not felt until Mataram City," he said.

Therefore, said Mahfuddin, people must remain calm and do not panic, so that when unexpected things happen, people can prepare themselves for rescue.

He acknowledged that people in Mataram City are still traumatized by the earthquake in August 2018, because the fear of saving themselves and having to be in refugee camps still surrounds them.

Mahfuddin said the tsunami detection tower located on the edge of Penghulu Agung Beach, Mataram City is still functioning well.

This is because every month, on the 26th, the tsunami detection tower is activated or tested. The surrounding community is also aware of this condition.

"When there is an indication of a tsunami, the device on the tower will sound and the sound can be heard up to a radius of one kilometer to the left, right, front and back," he said.