Residents Don't Panic, Earthquakes In Maluku Don't Have Tsunami Potential

Photo Illustration: Antara

MALUKU - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Class III Ternate, appealed to residents in North Maluku (Malut) not to panic about the 5.6 magnitude tectonic earthquake (M) that rocked Morotai Island Regency, Sunday (29/1) in the morning at around 04.15 WITA.

"For the earthquake, there is no potential for a tsunami and BMKG Ternate noted that there has been no aftershock, therefore residents are asked to remain calm and alert," said Operational Staff of BMKG Class III Ternate, Basri quoting Antara, Sunday, January 29.

The tectonic earthquake M 5.6 again rocked the district of Morotai Island with the location of the earthquake at coordinates 1.95 north latitude and 128.13 east longitude which is 21 kilometers southwest of Daruba, the capital city of the island of Morotai with a depth of 136 kilometers and no potential for a tsunami.

According to him, until now there have been no reports of residents regarding the impact of the earthquake.

BMKG Ternate has not recorded any aftershocks, therefore, the public is asked to remain calm and alert, and continue to follow official information from the BMKG and from the local government.

In addition, until now, there have been no reports of infrastructure damage to the 5.6 magnitude earthquake.

Basri explained that tectonic earthquakes that occur if you pay attention to the location of the epicenter and the depth of the hypocenter are medium-sized types of earthquakes due to subduction activity of the Philippine Sea plate.

While the results of the analysis show that the earthquake has a thrust fault mechanism.

The earthquake was felt in Morotai Island Regency with a scale of IV MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity), while in North Halmahera and Central Halmahera districts with a scale of III MMI, the earthquake did not have the potential for a tsunami.

Meanwhile, a resident of Morotai Island, Ridwan when contacted from Ternate, admitted that the earthquake rocked Morotai Island Regency, Sunday morning, January 29 at around 04.15 WIT, some residents felt it, but did not interfere with residents' activities at that time.

"Indeed, the earthquake that occurred while residents were in a state of rest, but there were also residents who had time to leave their homes when they felt the earthquake, but at this time, community activities on Morotai Island were normal," he said.