TEMPO.CO, Kupang - A 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook Alor, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Wednesday, November 4, damaging dozens of houses in the region.
Sumarwan, the head of Data and Information Section of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Kupang, said the quake occurred at 10:44am (local time) with an epicenter of 8.20 South Latitude and 124.94 East Longitude at 89km depth. “The epicenter is about 28km Northeast of Alor District,” he said.
The Alor Regent Amon Djobo explained that the earthquake can be felt nearly throughout the entire Alor region, but the most devastated area occurred in East Alor and South Alor, where dozens of homes reportedly had collapsed. “For the time being, there hasn’t been any report on casualties because people are panicking,” said Amon.
The Regional Disaster Management Agency has build several posts and aid to help earthquake victims.
The earthquake in Alor occurred three times in one day, first was recorded at 4.8 RS at 4:54am at 8.27 South Latitude and 124.91 East Longitude, with a 10km depth, 22km northeast of Alor.
Second, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake occurred around 10:44am at 8.20 South Latitude and 124.94 East Longitude, at a depth of 89km, 28km northeast.
Third, a 4.5 magnitude quake occurred around 12:34pm at 8.33 South Latitude and 125.12 Esat Longitude, 46km southeast of Alor, at a depth of 10km.
The three earthquakes were non potential to tsunami but the vibration could be strongly felt between IV - V Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI).
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