South Halmahera Earthquake, 60 Houses To Hospital Were Damaged

Halmahera Earthquake / BNPB

JAKARTA - An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 rocked Labuha, South Halmahera Regency (Halsel) on Friday, February 26 at 18.02 p.m. local time. The earthquake caused 60 houses to slightly damage the Regional General Hospital (RSUD).

The National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) also noted that one flat, the National Army (TNI) company building, the religious court office, and the Perkim Agency building also suffered minor damage.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, Raditya Jati, reported that three residents suffered minor injuries due to the earthquake. Meanwhile, 45 families or 169 people were displaced.

"A number of damage to buildings has been identified with a minor level of damage. There have been no reports of casualties from this earthquake", he said, in a written statement received by VOI, Saturday, February 27.

Raditya said that the BPBD South Halmahera is still collecting data on the impact of the earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) released parameters of a 5.2 magnitude earthquake in South Halmahera that occurred at a depth of 10 km. The epicenter was 11 km northeast of Labuha in the North Maluku province.

Based on modeling, this earthquake did not trigger a tsunami. Looking at the parameters of earthquake shocks measured by MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity, the shock shows the MMI IV in Labuha.

"BMKG described IV MMI as a situation during the day felt by many people inside the house and outside the house, then pottery was broken, windows and doors creaked and walls sounded", he said.

After the earthquake, said Raditya, BNPB scheduled the departure of the rapid reaction team (TRC) to go to the disaster site today, Saturday, February 27. BNPB continues to monitor and coordinate with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) South Halmahera Regency to get the latest information.

"In an effort to provide services to survivors, BPBD has set up family tents for residents and patients who are being treated at Labuhan Hospital", he said.