5.5 Magnitude Earthquake, Tourists At Pangandaran Beach Panic

The beach atmosphere in Pangandaran Regency, West Java, Thursday (28/12/2023). (ANTARA)

Pangandaran - Community and tourist activities at Pangandaran Beach, Pangandaran Regency, West Java, returned to normal after being rocked by an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 with an earthquake point in the Southwest of Pangandaran, Thursday morning. Head of the Pangandaran Regency Disaster Preparedness Taruna (Tagana) Nana Suryana said the earthquake caused panic in people who felt earthquake shocks, but the condition did not last long, the community and tourists returned to normal activities on the beach. "It was safe to return to normal, had panicked, but gradually returned to normal," Nana said, quoted by ANTARA, December 28. He said his staff immediately carried out monitoring shortly after an earthquake rocked the Pangandaran area. Reports in the field, he said, the situation and conditions were under control, there were also no reports of damage to the infrastructure or building of the impact of the earthquake. "Safe is under control. There were no reports of damage," he said. The same statement was conveyed by the Head of the Water and Air Police Unit of the Pangandaran Police AKP Sugianto that the condition of the community and tourists at Pangandaran Beach was in normal and safe conditions after the earthquake was felt to be strong and long. He appealed to the public to remain calm and always be careful when doing activities on the beach or swimming in the sea while still paying attention to danger signs, as well as following the direction of the coast guard officers. "For tourists to remain careful while playing at sea and obey the advice or instructions of coast guard officers," said Sugianto.

An official report from www.bmkg.go.id stated that a tectonic earthquake measuring 5.5 magnitude occurred in the south of West Java, Thursday at 05.43 WIB and had no potential for a tsunami. The earthquake occurred in the southern region of Garut-Tasikmalaya or precisely located in the sea at a distance of 94 km southwest of Pangandaran Regency, West Java at a depth of 41 km.