Aceh Has Been Shaken By Earthquakes Three Times Since Early Morning, BMKG: Has No Potential For A Tsunami

Illustration-Seismograph, a device for recording earthquake vibrations (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) noted that earthquakes had occurred in three locations since early morning, Thursday, January 7. The earthquake's magnitude was above 5.0.

The three locations where the earthquake occurred were Aceh, Bengkulu and Tomini Bay. "The Aceh earthquake this morning is the third earthquake that has been felt since this morning (Thursday, 7/1)," said BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Mitigation Coordinator, Daryono, as reported by Antara, Thursday, January 7.

BMKG noted, the earthquake that was felt in Bengkulu with a magnitude of 5.7 occurred at 00.28.35 WIB and the Tomini Bay earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 at around 03.59.37 WIB. This was followed by the Aceh earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 at 08.27.30 WIB.

He explained that the Aceh Earthquake was also centered on the sea, as was the previous Bengkulu earthquake and Tomini Bay earthquake. The epicenter of the earthquake in Aceh is located at coordinates 6.26 North Latitude and 94.18 East Longitude to be precise in the sea at a distance of 132 km northwest of Sabang City, Aceh at a depth of 64 km.

The Aceh Earthquake Generator was related to plate subduction activity, as was the previous Bengkulu earthquake and Tomini Bay earthquake.

Based on the epicenter location and its depth, the earthquake that occurred in Aceh was classified as a medium earthquake due to rock deformation on the slab of the Indo-Australian Plate which was subducted under the Eurasian Plate.

The results of the analysis of the source mechanism show that the earthquake has a thrust fault source mechanism as well as the Bengkulu earthquake and the Tomini Bay earthquake that occurred in the early hours of this morning, all three have an upward shift source mechanism.

Like the Bengkulu Earthquake and the Tomini Bay Earthquake, the Aceh Earthquake was also felt by the people in Banda Aceh and Sabang on a scale II-III MMI, causing some residents to run out of their houses.

However, until now there have been no reports of damage caused by the three significant earthquakes that were felt. Even though it is centered in the sea it has no potential for a tsunami.

BMKG monitoring results show that the Aceh Earthquake, Tomini Bay Earthquake and Bengkulu Earthquake that occurred since early this morning until 10:00 WIB had not been followed by aftershock activity.