BMKG: 75 Aftershocks Occur In The Flores Sea

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JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Earthquake and Tsunami Mitigation Coordinator, Daryono, said that there had been 75 aftershocks with a maximum magnitude of 6.8 since the first earthquake occurred in the Flores Sea.

Daryono said that 75 aftershocks had occurred until the afternoon since the first earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 occurred 112 kilometers northwest of Larantuka, East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.

Daryono said the biggest shock in the series of aftershocks was a magnitude 6.8.

Previously, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 occurred in the Flores Sea on Tuesday, December 14, at 10.20 WIB. The epicenter of the quake was 112 kilometers northwest of Larantuka City in NTT at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The BMKG has issued a tsunami early warning with a tsunami as high as 0.07 meters or 7 centimeters being detected at two points, namely Marapokot, Nagekeo Regency, NTT, at 10.36 WIB and Reo in Manggarai Regency at 10.39 WIB.

When this news was published, BMKG had ended the tsunami early warning period.

Previously, the Head of BMKG, Dwikorita Karnawati, asked the public to remain vigilant and avoid buildings damaged by the 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the Flores Sea because there is still the potential for aftershocks.

"We ask that because aftershocks are still happening, we ask the public to avoid cracked or damaged buildings caused by the earthquake", Dwikorita said at a press conference that was attended virtually from Jakarta, Tuesday.

She also asked the community, especially in the northern part of East Flores, Sikka Island, northern Sikka, and Lembata Island not to carry out activities on the coast and riverbanks.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has also reported that as many as 230 houses in Selayar Regency, South Sulawesi, were heavily damaged after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 occurred in the Flores Sea.

Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Information and Communication Data Center, Abdul Muhari, said there was also one school building unit, two places of worship, and one village head office that was affected by the earthquake.