TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A 5.5-magnitude tectonic earthquake jolted parts of East Nusa Tenggara until Bali. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded the quake occurred at 08:20 local time, Monday, Jan. 11. Originating in the Flores Sea, the quake had no potential to trigger a tsunami.

According to the agency’s quake and tsunami mitigation coordinator Daryono, the quake’s epicenter was recorded at 7.57 degrees south latitude and 120.48 degrees east longitude. “Precisely in the sea, 115 kilometers north of Ruteng City, Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara,” he said in a written statement on Monday, Jan. 11.

The quake, which was at a depth of 653 kilometers or classified as the deep focus quake, was triggered by slab deformation in the mantle transition zone at a depth of 400-660 kilometers. “It has no tsunami potential as the source location is very deep with a relatively small magnitude,” Daryono added.

However, the tremor was felt in wide areas. Based on the public reports and the BMKG shock level map, the tremor was felt in Waingapu, NTT, at the II-III level of the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) and in Denpasar, Kuta, Mataram, and Central Lombok at II level of MMI.

The analysis results of the quake mechanism showed that it was caused by a normal fault mechanism. Until 09:30, there were two aftershocks.

Daryono appealed to the public to remain calm following the earthquake activity in the Flores Sea. “Because the source is very deep and will not have a destructive impact on the earth's surface,” he said.

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ANWAR SISWADI (CONTRIBUTOR)