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Indonesia suffers series of quakes
Source: Xinhua |
January 21, 2012, Saturday
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A series of moderate and strong earthquakes hit eastern Indonesia early this morning, with the first one triggering panic among people while the second one only caused a weak tremor.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that the first earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale rocked East Nusa Tenggara province at 05:32 local time on today (2032 GMT yesterday).
The tremor was centered at 48 kilometers southwest of West Manggarai area and at a depth of 124 kilometers under seabed.
Meanwhile the second earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale rocked North Sulawesi province at 07:50 local time (2250 GMT yesterday).
The tremor was centered at 128 kilometers northwest of Sangihe Archipelago and at a depth of 10 kilometers under seabed.
The agency did not issue a tsunami warning for both earthquakes.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, head of the Center of Data Information and Public Relations at the National Agency for Disaster Management, told Xinhua that weak tremors were felt due to the first quake.
Later on, he revised his comment after receiving complete reports, saying that people felt a strong enough tremor.
"An enough strong tremor was felt by residents for about three seconds, triggering brief panic. The earthquake intensity was III- IV MMI or moderate," he said, adding that activities returned to normal immediately.
He said that the Regional Agency for Disaster Management of East Nusa Tenggara province is still collecting data.
The second earthquake, which occurred two hours later, caused a weak tremor with an intensity of II-III MMI or weak.
Related to the earthquakes, Nugroho said in a statement that people were urged to increase alertness.
"Earthquake threat is very real as Indonesia locates at an earthquake-prone area," he said.
According to Nugroho, the western area of Sumatra Island, southern area of Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara islands are located at a subduction zone of Indo-Australia and Eurasia plates heading northeast and north with a speed of 5-7 cm per year.
Meanwhile, northern Papua Island, around Sulawesi and Maluku islands are located at a subduction zone of Pacific, Eurasia and the Philippines plates that move 12 cm per year.
"The pushing energy triggers earthquakes," he said.
So far, science cannot predict earthquake accurately in terms of when, where and the magnitude.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that the first earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale rocked East Nusa Tenggara province at 05:32 local time on today (2032 GMT yesterday).
The tremor was centered at 48 kilometers southwest of West Manggarai area and at a depth of 124 kilometers under seabed.
Meanwhile the second earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale rocked North Sulawesi province at 07:50 local time (2250 GMT yesterday).
The tremor was centered at 128 kilometers northwest of Sangihe Archipelago and at a depth of 10 kilometers under seabed.
The agency did not issue a tsunami warning for both earthquakes.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, head of the Center of Data Information and Public Relations at the National Agency for Disaster Management, told Xinhua that weak tremors were felt due to the first quake.
Later on, he revised his comment after receiving complete reports, saying that people felt a strong enough tremor.
"An enough strong tremor was felt by residents for about three seconds, triggering brief panic. The earthquake intensity was III- IV MMI or moderate," he said, adding that activities returned to normal immediately.
He said that the Regional Agency for Disaster Management of East Nusa Tenggara province is still collecting data.
The second earthquake, which occurred two hours later, caused a weak tremor with an intensity of II-III MMI or weak.
Related to the earthquakes, Nugroho said in a statement that people were urged to increase alertness.
"Earthquake threat is very real as Indonesia locates at an earthquake-prone area," he said.
According to Nugroho, the western area of Sumatra Island, southern area of Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara islands are located at a subduction zone of Indo-Australia and Eurasia plates heading northeast and north with a speed of 5-7 cm per year.
Meanwhile, northern Papua Island, around Sulawesi and Maluku islands are located at a subduction zone of Pacific, Eurasia and the Philippines plates that move 12 cm per year.
"The pushing energy triggers earthquakes," he said.
So far, science cannot predict earthquake accurately in terms of when, where and the magnitude.
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