Again Hit By Aftershocks, BMKG Urges Batang Residents Not To Believe In Illegal Issues

Head of BMKG Banjarnegara Station Herry Susanto Wibowo (blue clothes). (Doc. ANTARA)

Batang Regency, Central Java was again hit by aftershocks with a magnitude of 3.0 according to data shared by the Banjarnegara Station Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.

"The earthquake occurred this morning at around 07.38 WIB. This aftershock was the fourth time from a series of 4.4 magnitude earthquakes that occurred on Sunday (7/7)," said Head of BMKG Banjarnegara Station Herry Susanto Wibowo when contacted by telephone in Batang, as reported by ANTARA, Saturday, July 13.

According to him, the epicenter was at coordinates 6.97 degrees South Latitude and 109.72 degrees east longitude, precisely on land at a distance of 6 kilometers southwest of Batang with a depth of 5 kilometers.

By paying attention to the location of the epicenter and the depth of the hypocenter, according to him, the earthquake that occurred was a type of shallow earthquake due to active fault activity.

"The earthquake shock was felt in the Batang III MMI area, such as a passing truck," he said.

He appealed to the public to remain calm and not be influenced by issues that cannot be justified.

"Pastikan informasi resmi hanya bersumber dari BMKG yang disebarkan melalui kanal komunikasi resmi yang telah terverifikasi seperti Instagram/Twitter @infoBMKG), website (http://www.bmkg.go.id atau inatews.bmkg.go.id), dan telegram channel (https://t.me/InaTEWS_BMKG)," katanya.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Batang Ulul Asmi Regional Disaster Management Agency also hopes that the community will continue to maintain awareness of possible aftershocks in the area.

"We urge people to stay away from the location of the building when there is an earthquake to take cover to a safer location. Currently, we are still providing assistance to earthquake victims by building a public kitchen and rehabilitating damaged houses," he said.

Residents should avoid buildings that are cracked or damaged. Check and make sure the residential buildings are earthquake-resistant enough, make sure there is no damage caused by earthquake vibrations that endanger the stability of the building before returning to the house.

"Make sure official information only comes from BMKG which is distributed through verified official communication channels," he concluded.