TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that small tsunamis were detected following the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Flores Sea.

As reported earlier, the quake was centered at 113 kilometers northwest of Larantuka, Flores, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) at a depth of 10 kilometers.

According to the agency, tsunamis occurred in Morocco and Reo of Flores with a sea-level rise of 0.07 meters at 10:36 a.m. and 10:39 a.m. local time, respectively. Based on the map of the estimated maximum sea level after the quake at 10:20 a.m., the agency announced the potential for a tsunami in the neighborhood of 0-0.5 meters high.

The early warning was issued to areas of NTT, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), South Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and Maluku. However, the areas under tsunami alert status based on the modeling included northern east Flores, Sikka Island, Northern Sikka, and Lembata Island of NTT.

Local governments of regions under tsunami alert status were expected to be alert and immediately order people to stay away from coastal areas and river banks.

Read: BMKG Issues Tsunami Warning after Strong Earthquake in Flores Sea

ZACHARIAS WURAGIL