BMKG: Earthquake M 5.4 NTB Caused by Indo-Australian Plate Fault

Illustration of earthquake impact. (Unsplash-Mick Haupt)

JAKARTA - An earthquake with a magnitude (M) of 5.4 in the northern sea area of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) was caused by deformation or rock fractures in the Indo-Australian Plate.

Head of the Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) Earthquake and Tsunami Center, Daryono, said the epicentre of the earthquake was located at coordinates 7.77 degrees South Latitude, 117.20 degrees East Longitude or to be precise, located in the sea 74 km northeast of Saring Island, NTB at a depth of 317 km.

"Taking into account the location of the epicentre and the depth of the hypocenter, the earthquake that occurred was a type of deep earthquake due to rock deformation in the Indo-Australian Plate which is popularly known as an intraslab earthquake or Benioff earthquake", he confirmed, Monday 6 February, confiscated by Antara.

He added, the results of the analysis of the source mechanism showed that the earthquake had a mechanism of upward shear movement or an oblique thrust fault.

Daryono said the earthquake that occurred on Monday, February 6, at 14.11 WIB, in the North Sea region of Sumbawa, NTB had an update parameter with M 5.3.

He revealed that the earthquake caused shaking in the Liukang Tangaya area, Labuhan Badas area and Utan Sumbawa with an intensity scale of III-IV MMI (if it was felt by many people in the house).

"The modelling results show that this earthquake has no potential for a tsunami", he explained.

As of 14.35 WIB, he said, the BMKG monitoring results had not shown any aftershock activity.

He appealed to the public to remain calm and not be influenced by issues whose truth cannot be accounted for.

In addition, people are also advised to avoid buildings that are cracked or damaged by earthquakes.

"Check and make sure the building where you live is sufficiently earthquake resistant, or that there is no damage due to earthquake vibrations that could endanger the stability of the building before you return to your house", he said.