BMKG Notes 1,442 Earthquakes In Central Sulawesi Throughout 2022

Illustration (Photo: Doc. Antara)

PALU - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded that 1,442 earthquakes occurred in Central Sulawesi (Sulteng) Province throughout 2022.

"A total of 1,442 shocks occurred including shallow earthquakes and deep earthquakes," said the young Meteorology and Geophysics Observer (PMG) of the Palu Geophysics Station, Hendrik Leopatty, quoted from Antara, Sunday, January 1.

He explained that the most frequent tectonic earthquake shocks in 2022 occurred in April as many as 167 times, then in June 146 times and in July 158 times.

Of the 1,442 shocks, there were 35 significant earthquakes or people felt with shallow depths.

"Events like this cannot be predicted, and shocks occur due to active local faults," said Hendrik.

He explained, in Central Sulawesi there are 24 special tools for earthquake detection installed, in order to make it easier for BMKG to monitor seismic activity, including special tsunami detectors.

As an analysis of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), that Palu City is one of the earthquake-prone areas in Central Sulawesi, this refers to the September 28, 2018 incident where the city of Palu, Sigi Regency, Donggala, and parts of Parigi Moutong was rocked by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake accompanied by a tsunami and liquefaction.

Therefore, as a vulnerable area to the threat of earthquakes and other seismic activity, BMKG asked the local government and the community to further strengthen mitigation and education related to disasters.

"People in the area have long adapted to situations like this, seismic activity has no effect on the social life of the local community," said Hendrik.

He added that the earthquake that occurred in Central Sulawesi was still dominated by shallow earthquakes triggered by local fault movements which could be active at any time.

"From our records, according to the frequency of the earthquake, based on the depth, there were more than 1,000 shallow earthquakes with a depth of 60 kilometers and below," said Hendrik.