TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An earthquake with magnitude 4.9 hit West Seram Regency, Maluku Province on Thursday, March 24. The temporary data of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported on Friday, March 25, at 19:40 Western Indonesia Time (WIB) that 42 houses were damaged due to the natural disaster.

"The temporary data stated that there is no casualty in this incident," said the acting chief of BNPB’s Disaster Data Center, Information, and Communication, Abdul Muhari, in a written statement on Saturday, March 26.

The quake occurred on Thursday, March 24 at 20:51 (WIB). The people felt the tremor for about 1-2 seconds. The disaster mitigation agency of West Seram reported that the affected area is Kamarian Village, Kairatu District. The shaking was also felt by the people on Ambon Island for about 1-2 seconds.

The epicenter was 12 km southwest of Kairatu with the hypocenter at 10 km. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency stated that the quake showed no potential for a tsunami.

BNPB calls on the regional government and the people to remain alert. Based on inaRISK analysis, 11 regencies in West Seram have the potential for an earthquake with the moderate and high category, and one of the regions is Kairatu.

Responding to the earthquake phenomenon, the people are expected to be able to conduct self-evacuation safely. According to BNPB, casualties are not caused by the quake but by the buildings. The people are also asked not to be triggered by rumors spread on social media.

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