BMKG Records 58 Aftershocks After The M 5.2 Kendari Earthquake

Earthquake illustration. (Between)

SULTENG - Aftershocks have occurred 58 times to date since an earthquake of magnitude (M) 5.2 rocked Kendari City and Konawe Regency on Saturday, March 26.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) records, an M 3.5 earthquake occurred in the east of the Soropia Sea, Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi (Central Sulawesi), at 09.10 WITA.

"This earthquake was an aftershock with a magnitude of 5.2 at 21.16 WITA on March 26, 2022. As of Sunday at 09.55 WITA, the results of BMKG monitoring showed that there had been 58 aftershocks," said Head of the Kendari Geophysics Station, Rudin, quoted from Antara.

The BMKG stated that the epicenter of the earthquake was located at coordinates 3.88° South Latitude, 122.69° East Longitude, or to be precise, it was located at sea at a distance of 4.7 km, east of the Soropia Sea, Konawe Regency with a depth of 10 km.

Rudin said by paying attention to the location of the epicenter and the depth of the hypocenter, the earthquake that occurred was a shallow earthquake caused by the activity of the Lawanopo Fault in the Northeast of Soropia, Konawe Regency.

"The tremors of this earthquake were reported to be felt in Kendari and Konawe, several people felt the vibrations, light objects that were hung swayed, the vibrations were felt in real homes, the vibrations felt as if a truck had passed," he said.

Even so, until now there has been no report of the impact of damage caused by the earthquake. "The modeling results show that the earthquake does not have the potential for a tsunami," said Rudin.

BMKG appealed to the public to remain calm and not be influenced by issues that cannot be accounted for, to avoid buildings that were cracked or damaged by the earthquake.

"Then check and make sure the building where you live is earthquake-resistant enough, or there is no damage due to earthquake vibrations that endanger the stability of the building before you return to the house," said Rudin.