Mentawai Earthquake 5.7 Magnitude, Tuapejat Residents Choose To Be Cautious And Fled To Church

Residents are on alert after the earthquake in Mentawai, West Sumatra, Monday, May 3 (Photo: BPBD, Mentawai Islands Regency)

JAKARTA - A number of residents of Mapadegat Hamlet, Tuapejat Village, North Sipora District, Mentawai Islands Regency, chose to flee to the Piniel Church, following an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.7 in the area on Monday, May 3, at 00.46 western Indonesia time in the morning.

Head of the Mentawai Islands Regency, Regional Disaster Management Agency for Control and Operations Center (Pusdalops), Amir, reported through a written statement that residents were still in a state of alert until now, having previously felt strong earthquake shocks for 2-4 seconds.

"The community is still in a state of alert," Amir said in a statement received by VOI, Monday, May 3.

Currently, the BPBD of Mentawai Islands Regency is monitoring and coordinating with village officials and other related agencies.

The Mentawai Islands Regency BPBD team has also appealed to the public to remain calm and always be vigilant.

"The Mentawai Islands Regency BPBD team has visited several locations, urging the public to remain calm and always be alert," said Amir.

In order to anticipate any disruption or blackout, the Mentawai Islands Regency BPBD has prepared a lighting device.

Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued information on earthquakes with an epicenter on the seabed with a depth of 29 kilometers, at a position of 2.34 LS and 99.66 East Longitude or 35 kilometers southeast of Tuapejat, North Sipora, and 37 kilometers southeast of the Mentawai Islands.

BMKG also released that the earthquake had no potential for a tsunami.

Until this press release was released, there had not been any reports of damage or casualties.