TEMPO.CO, Bandung - A tectonic earthquake measuring 4.2 magnitudes from the sea struck Bahodopi, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Thursday, Jan. 21. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated the quake that occurred at 13:42 Central Indonesian Time (WITA) had no potential to trigger a tsunami.

The epicenter was detected at 2.74 degrees south latitude and 122.30 degrees east longitude. “Precisely off the coast of Bahodopi,” said Daryono, the agency’s quake and tsunami mitigation coordinator.

He explained in a written statement that the source of the quake was about 20 kilometers east of Bahodopi and that it was a shallow one with a depth of 10 kilometers.

The quake, he added, was caused by fault activity of the Geresa segment. The tremor was felt at the intensity level III of the MMI scale.

The region was earlier jolted by a 4.3 magnitude quake at 11:32 WITA. The shock was at the same intensity level, likewise the depth. Yet it was centered at 18 kilometers northeast of Lafeu.

Previously, Bahodopi was hit by a series of tectonic earthquakes last Monday, Jan. 4. Three of the quakes were felt by local residents. One of them measuring 4.9 magnitudes caused damage as the tremor was felt up to the V-VI MMI scale. The quake was recorded off the coast of Morowali.

Read: BMKG Records 52 Earthquakes in 20 Days of January 2021

ANWAR SISWADI (CONTRIBUTOR)