If This Happens, BMKG Calls Bengkulu Potentially An 8.9 Magnitude Earthquake And Tsunami

Head of the Data and Information Section of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Climatology Station Baai Island Bengkulu City Anang Anwar/ANTARA

BENGKULU - Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Baai Island Climatology Station, Bengkulu City, asked the people of Bengkulu Province to be aware of the potential for an earthquake with a maximum strength of 8.9 magnitudes centered in the Mukomuko Regency area.

Head of BMKG Data and Information Section for the Climatology Station of Baai Island Bengkulu, Anang Anwar, said the earthquake also had the potential to cause a tsunami with a wave height of 15 meters.

"Bengkulu has the potential for an earthquake of magnitude 8.9 to cause a tsunami wave of up to 15 meters", said Anang in Bengkulu, Antara, Thursday, August 25.

He explained that the potential for an earthquake would occur when the earth's plate in the waters of Mukomuko Regency close to the waters of the Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, broke.

However, until now the condition of the earth's plate has not broken and the public is asked to remain vigilant and not panic.

Because Bengkulu Province is an area traversed by a series of volcanoes or a ring of fire there is the potential for earthquakes of great strength when compared to other areas.

"The area of Bengkulu Province has a large enough chance for the plate shift to occur", he said.

Although Bengkulu Province is an area where earthquakes often occur, if the Bengkulu region does not occur, people should be worried.

Because Bengkulu has a very large earthquake potential, reaching around 8.4 magnitudes, and happened in 1844.

"If there is an earthquake in Bengkulu, people don't worry. In fact, with an earthquake, they are more grateful because the earthquake did not happen all at once but slowly", he explained.

Anang continued, that the occurrence of earthquakes with small strengths causes the release of energy in the earth's plate to occur continuously, thereby reducing the occurrence of large earthquakes in Bengkulu.