A 7.3 Magnitude Tectonic Earthquake Shakes Papua New Guinea

Earthquake illustration (Photo by Andrew Buchanan on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - An earthquake measuring 7.3 magnitude rocked Papua New Guinea. The strong tremors at around 09.50 WIB also sounded a tsunami wave warning.

Launching Reuters, a tsunami wave warning was issued to people living in coastal areas within 300 km from Wau. According to the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the quake was centered at a depth of 85 km and struck off the east and southeast coast of Wau.

However, after an hour had passed, the official tsunami wave warning was lifted. Even so, there have been no reports of casualties or damage related to the earthquake.

"It's normal, earthquakes, here. The staff is fine. They keep going," said a resident at Lae City Hotel, Papua New Guinea, Friday, July 17.

The tremors of the earthquake made a number of hotel visitors and the public scattered out. Wau is a former gold mining town in the interior of Papua New Guinea. The population in the area is about 5 thousand people.

#Gempa Mag: 7.3, 17-Jul-20 09:50:23 WIB, Loc: 7.82 South Latitude, 147.70 East Longitude (192 km North East PORTMORESBY-PNG), Kedlmn: 87 Km, no potential for a tsunami #BMKG pic.twitter.com/ VejAOhgxXz

- BMKG (@infoBMKG) July 17, 2020

BMKG analysis

Based on BMKG analysis, the epicenter of the earthquake is located at coordinates 7.82 LS and 147.7 East Longitude, or to be precise located off the coast of Holnicote at a distance of 114 km north of Kokoda Papuanugini, at a depth of 87 km. The earthquake that occurred was a medium-sized earthquake due to plate subduction activity.

"The impact of the earthquake based on the shock level model (shakemap) shows that the impact of the earthquake reached the VI-VII MMI intensity scale which could potentially cause damage. Until 10.57 WIB, the BMKG monitoring results had not shown any aftershock activity," said the Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center. Rahmat Triyono in a written statement received by VOI.

The results of the analysis of the source mechanism show that this earthquake has a combination of horizontal and downward magnification (oblique normal). Modeling results show that this earthquake has no potential for a tsunami, so people are advised to remain calm and not have to worry about tsunamis.