Southwest Maluku Earthquake Above Magnitude 5 Twice, Residents Feel The Shock

Earthquake in Maluku (Photo: BNPB)

JAKARTA - There were two earthquakes with a magnitude above magnitude 5 around the Southwest Maluku Regency, in the Banda Sea, on Thursday, December 16 yesterday.

Based on the report from the Southwest Maluku Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the first was recorded at 11.26 WIB with M5.6 and the second at 18.03 WIB with M5.3.

The 5.6 magnitude earthquake was centered 163 kilometers northeast of Southwest Maluku with a depth of 26 kilometers. While the second earthquake was centered 217 kilometers northeast of Southwest Maluku and 385 kilometers deep.

Plt. The Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Abdul Muhari said that his party was still coordinating with the local BPBD regarding the impact of the earthquake.

"When the 5.6 magnitude earthquake occurred, residents felt the shaking for 1 to 2 seconds. People panicked and ran out of their houses," said Abdul Muhari in his statement, Friday, December 17.

Meanwhile, the residents of Damer sub-district felt quite a shock. Then during the second earthquake, residents also felt moderate shaking of the same duration.

Abdul Muhari revealed that the first earthquake caused damage to buildings such as in the villages of West Bebar, Ilih, and Kehli.

"The MBD Regency BPBD data records that 1 unit of resident's house was damaged in Bebar Barat Village, 1 unit in Ilih Village, and 5 units in Kehli. Apart from damage to residents' houses, 1 unit of worship place in Ilih Village was also damaged," he explained.

Until now, he continued, there were no reports of the impact of casualties or displaced residents due to the earthquake.

Based on the inaRISK study, 17 sub-districts in MBD Regency have a moderate to high earthquake hazard potential. One of the sub-districts with this potential is Damer District, which has identified building damage.