TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Majene City, West Sulawesi, in the early hours of Friday, Jan. 15, at 01:28 a.m. and killed at least seven people, injured hundreds and damaged many buildings.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) head of quake and tsunami center, Bambang Setiyo Prayitno, said the epicenter was on land at a depth of 10 KM. The tremor originated at 2.98 degrees south latitude and 118.94 degrees east longitude, or about six kilometers northeast of the city.

“Based on the epicenter and the hypocenter, it is a shallow quake due to local fault activity,” said Bambang in a written statement on Friday, Jan. 15. The quake was also triggered by a thrust fault and had no potential to cause a tsunami.

The powerful tremor was felt in Majene and Mamuju areas at the IV-V level of the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI), as well as in Palu, Central Mamuju, North Mamuju, and Mamasa areas at the III level of MMI.

The BMKG earlier detected a preliminary quake measuring 3.1 magnitudes, Bambang added. Until 02:20 a.m., there were six aftershocks with a maximum magnitude of 4.1.

It was a series of 5.9-magnitude quake which occurred on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 13:35 local time.

Bambang appealed to residents in areas around the Majene earthquake epicenter to avoid cracked or damaged buildings caused by the powerful tremor and ensure that their houses are safe before returning.

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ANTARA | REUTERS