BMKG Said That The Earthquake Energy In West Sulawesi Is Still Left: The Potential For A Tsunami To Aftershocks

ILLUSTRATION / BMKG

JAKARTA - Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Dwikorita Karnawati said that earthquake energy in the West Sulawesi (Sulbar) region still remains. This means that there is still the potential for aftershocks.

The potential for aftershocks is calculated to be as strong as 6.2 magnitude as happened in Majene Regency some time ago.

"Earthquake energy is currently calculated to remain remaining, not all out. Now, this calculation is an estimate, it is calculated to be more or less as strong as yesterday," he said, when contacted by reporters, Sunday, January 17.

However, Dwikorita said it was still potential or it could not be 100 percent certain that it would happen. Moreover, he said, an earthquake is difficult to determine.

On the other hand, Dwikorita also mentioned the potential for a tsunami. This refers to a similar incident that occurred in West Sulawesi in 1969.

At that time, an earthquake measuring 6.9 with a magnitude rocked Majene Regency, triggering a tsunami as high as four meters.

Based on data, 65 people died, 97 people were injured, and 1,287 houses were damaged by the incident.

"Now, only 6.2 (magnitude) has been released, if in 69 it is 6.9 (magnitude), it means that actually the stored energy is equivalent to 6.9 (magnitude)," he explained.

For your information, an earthquake measuring magnitude 6.2 rocked Majene, West Sulawesi on Friday, January 15, 2021, at around 02.28 WIB, early morning.

Previously, Majene was also shaken by an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 on Thursday, January 14, 2021, at noon at 13.35 WIB. Until Saturday, January 16, 2021, at 6:32 a.m. WIB, the Majene and Mamuju areas were again rocked by aftershocks with a magnitude of 4.8.

This earthquake is the 32nd earthquake that has occurred since the opening earthquake on Thursday, January 14, 2021.