TEMPO.CO, Padang – An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale rocked Mentawai Islands, West Sumatera, on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, at 13.10.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Padang Panjang said the earthquake took place at 192 kilometers southeastern off Mentawai Islands.
“The earthquake took place around Pagai Selatan Island, about 10 kilometers deep,” Padang Panjang BMKG Information Data head Buha M. Simanjuntak said.
Ade Edward, the chairman of West Sumatera chapter of the Indonesian Geologists Association, said the epicenter of the tremor was located at the Megathrust quake path.
“It was the remaining energy contained in the path. It was quite big but harmless,” Ade said.
ANDRI EL FARUQI