Earthquake In Southwest Mukomuko Triggered By Indo-Australian Plate Activity

Map of the 6.0 magnitude earthquake in the Bengkulu region on Tuesday, August 3. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The tectonic earthquake that occurred in the Mentawai region, about 135 km southwest of Mukomuko City, Bengkulu Province, on Tuesday at 05.48 WIB was triggered by the subduction activity of the Indo-Australian Plate which subducted under the Eurasian Plate, according to officials from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. (BMKG) "This earthquake is a type of shallow earthquake due to the subduction activity of the Indo-Australian Plate which is subducting under the Eurasian Plate," said Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center Bambang Setiyo Prayitno in a press statement quoted by Antara, Tuesday, August 3. The results of the analysis of the source mechanism show that the earthquake has an upward movement mechanism," he added. BMKG initially stated that the earthquake that occurred in the southwest of Mukomuko had a magnitude of 6.0 and its center was in the sea at a depth of 10 km at coordinates 3.17 south latitude and 100.18 latitude. East Longitude, 123 km southwest of Mukomuko.

However, BMKG later submitted an update, stating that the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.9 and its epicenter was at a depth of 21 km at 3.23 South Latitude and 100.11 East Longitude, 135 km southwest of Mukomuko. According to BMKG, the shock caused by the earthquake was felt on the MMI III-IV scale in Mukomuko; on the MMI II-III scale in North Bengkulu, Padang, and Pariaman; and on a scale II MMI in Kepahiang, Bengkulu City, and Curup. On a scale II MMI vibrations were felt by several people and caused light objects that were hung to sway. On the MMI scale III the vibrations are felt inside the house, as if a truck was passing by. Vibrations on the MMI IV scale during the day were felt by many people inside the house and caused doors and windows to creak. Until now there have been no reports of damage caused by the earthquake in southwest Mukomuko. Bambang said that based on modeling of the earthquake that occurred in the west The BMKG noted that after the first earthquake up to 06.30 WIB there were two aftershocks with a magnitude of 5.4 and 3.6. Bambang appealed to residents in the area around the epicenter to avoid buildings that were cracked or damaged by the earthquake and to inspect buildings residence to ensure that there is no damage that could jeopardize the stability of the building.