M 5.2 Earthquake On The South Coast Of Cianjur Triggered By Plate Subduction Activities

Map of the epicenter with a magnitude of 5.2 in the southwest of Bandung Regency, West Java, on Saturday (18/11/2023) morning. (ANTARA/HO-BMKG)

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that the earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 that occurred in the southern coast of Cianjur, West Java, at 06.34 WIB was triggered by plate subduction activity.

According to the Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center, Daryono, the earthquake, which was centered at sea at a depth of 58 km, about 100 km southwest of Bandung Regency, was classified as a shallow earthquake.

"By paying attention to the location of the epicenter and the depth of the hypocenter, the earthquake that occurred was a shallow type of earthquake due to plate subduction activity," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, November 18.

Based on the results of the analysis of the mechanism of the source of the earthquake, it has an upward movement mechanism.

According to him, the earthquake was felt in Garut, Sindangbarang, Ciamis, Pakenjeng, Bungbulang, and Tasikmalaya areas on a scale of III MMI, the vibration was felt real inside the house and felt as if a truck had passed.

Earthquakes were also felt in Cianjur, Sukabumi, and Bandung on the MMIII-III scale. On the MMI II scale, vibrations were felt by several people and caused light objects that were hung to sway.

Daryono said that based on the results of the earthquake modeling, there was no potential to cause a tsunami.

The BMKG appealed to residents to avoid buildings that were cracked or damaged by the earthquake and to inspect residential buildings to ensure that there was no damage that could endanger the stability of the building before returning to the house.