The 5.9 M Bengkulu Earthquake Occurs In The Megathrust Zone Of The Enggano Segment

Map of earthquake points in Bengkulu, Tuesday (17/5/2022). (ANTARA/HO-BMKG)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that from the analysis results, the earthquake that occurred with an updated magnitude parameter (M) of 5.9 in Bengkulu Province on Tuesday at 01.58.22 WIB occurred in the Megathrust Zone of the Enggano Segment.

Previously, the earthquake with an initial parameter of M 6.0 had an epicenter located at coordinates 5.40° South latitude and 101.81° East longitude to be precise at sea, at a distance of 55 km southwest of Enggano Island with a hypocenter depth of 24 km.

"The earthquake that occurred was a shallow type of earthquake due to the subduction activity of the Indo-Australian Plate which subducted under the Eurasian Plate, precisely in the Megathrust Zone of the Enggano Segment," said the Coordinator of Earthquake and Tsunami Mitigation of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Daryono when confirmed in Jakarta. Jakarta was reported by Antara, Tuesday, May 17.

The results of the analysis of the source mechanism show that the earthquake has a thrust fault mechanism which is a characteristic of earthquake activity originating in the megathrust zone, said Daryono.

The earthquake had an impact and was felt quite strongly on Enggano Island on the MMI IV-V intensity scale where the shaking was felt by almost all residents, even residents who were sleeping could wake up.

In the cities of Bengkulu and North Bengkulu, the shock was felt on the MMI III-IV intensity scale and was felt by many people, which also made some people wake up from sleep. Meanwhile in Kepahiang and Rejang Lebong the earthquake was felt on the MMI intensity scale III, where the vibrations seemed as if a truck had passed.

"We should be grateful that until now there have been no reports of damage to residents' houses as a result of the earthquake shocks that occurred," he said. sea water.

As of 14.00 WIB, the results of BMKG monitoring showed that there had been one aftershock activity with a magnitude of 3.2.

To note, in this earthquake zone on September 12, 2007 there was a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 8.5 which resulted in 23 deaths. This earthquake also triggered a tsunami that flooded at least 300 houses and buildings on Pagai Island, Mentawai Islands as high as 1 meter.