6.2 magnitude earthquake off Indonesia

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No casualties or serious property damage have been reported so far, Indonesia’s disaster management agency (BNPB) said.

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded this morning in the sea off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the US Geological Survey (USGS) announced.

The epicenter was located 48 kilometers south-southeast of the city of Singil, Aceh province, and the focal depth was 37 kilometers, the USGS said.

For its part, the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Institute (EMSC) estimated that the earthquake had a magnitude of 6 and that it occurred at a focal depth of 80 kilometers.

No casualties or serious property damage have been reported so far, Indonesia’s disaster management agency (BNPB) said.

“The earthquake caused panic. It was felt for 3 to 10 seconds in four districts of Aceh and North Sumatra province,” Abdul Muhari, BNPB spokesman, said in a press release issued by the agency.

The earthquake occurred around 06:30 (local time; 00:30 Greek time).

The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) also reported a 6.2-magnitude earthquake, while clarifying that there is no risk of a tsunami.

Indonesia, due to its geographical position on the Pacific “ring of fire”, where tectonic plates intersect, is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

On November 21, 2022, 602 people died when a 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck the densely populated province of West Java, on the island of the same name.

More recently, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake recorded on January 10 off Indonesia and East Timor, also in the deep ocean, injured one person and destroyed fifteen houses and two schools, according to BNPB.

The deadliest earthquake in Indonesia’s history occurred off Sumatra on December 26, 2004, when more than 230,000 lives were lost, as it triggered a tsunami with giant waves, 30 meters high, that hit not only Indonesia itself but also Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, reaching as far as Africa. It had a power of 9.1 points.

RES-EMP

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