Earthquake Magnitude 6.4 Landa Barat Beach Aceh, BMKG: No Tsunami Potential

JAKARTA - Gempa berkekuatan magnitudo 6,4 mengguncang kawasan Pantai Barat Aceh pada Sabtu, 24 September, pagi. Badan Meteorologi Klimatologi dan Geofisika (BMKG) menegaskan, gempa tektonik tersebut tidak dampak tsunami.

BMKG Deputy for Geophysics Suko Prayitno Adi said sea level did not show an impact of the increase.

"There is a sea level observation tool and it is stated that there will be no significant changes in sea level," said Suko Prayitno, at a press conference on Post-Earth Earthquake Development in Aceh, as reported by Antara.

He said the earthquake was triggered by the subduction activity of the Megathrust Aceh-Youaman segment plate due to Megathrust activity in the western Sumatra region of active status.

Based on the results of observations of the location of the epicenter and the depth of the hypocenter, continued Suko, the earthquake that occurred was a type of shallow earthquake that had a thrust fault mechanism.

He explained that the estimated shock level map reached an intensity scale of IV-V Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) which was potentially destructive. As of 09.00 WIB today, Suko has not received reports of victims dying as a result of the incident.

"If you look at the intensity, the possibility of damage is only small. So far, no victims have been reported to have died," he said.

As of 08.10 WIB, the results of BMKG monitoring showed that there were two aftershock activities with the largest magnitude of magnitude 2.7.

The BMKG appealed to the public to remain calm but vigilant. Because aftershocks are still possible. "People whose homes have been damaged or partially damaged are advised not to stay at home, because if a significant aftershock occurs, they can suffer more severe damage and even collapse," he said.

Suko also appealed to the public to be aware of hilly areas with steep cliffs because significant aftershocks could trigger landslides and rock collapse.

"The public is asked not to believe false news about the prediction of a larger earthquake and a tsunami will occur," he said.

Please note, the western coast of Aceh was rocked by a tectonic earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 at 03.53 WIB at the epicenter of 3.75° LU; 95.97° East Longitude, precisely at sea 46 km southwest of Meulaboh, West Aceh at a depth of 53 km.

The history of a major earthquake in Aceh that was destructive and triggered a tsunami was recorded on December 26, 2004 with a magnitude of 9 that resulted in 283,100 people dying, 14,100 people missing, and 1,126,900 people taking refuge due to causing a large tsunami.

Another earthquake occurred on March 28, 2005, with a magnitude of 8.6, resulting in 1,303 deaths, more than 340 people injured, and more than 300 buildings damaged.

On April 7, 2010, BMKG recorded an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 which resulted in five serious injuries, 17 minor injuries, 64 heavily damaged houses, 275 moderately damaged houses, and 824 lightly damaged houses.