TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A powerful earthquake of 6.7 magnitudes, which was updated to 6.5 magnitudes, rocked Bengkulu and its vicinity at 21:31 local time, Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

“There is no report of damage until now,” said Bengkulu Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) coordinator Indi Sastra, as quoted from the press release on Tuesday evening, August 23, 2022.

Indi said the team was coordinating with districts and cities to record the damage.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) noted that the quake centered at 5.22 degrees south latitude and 102.95 degrees east longitude and at a depth of 52 kilometers. The Bengkulu BPBD said the tremor was felt quite strong for 2-6 seconds causing people to run out of their houses in panic.

The strongest shaking was recorded in Kaur areas at the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) level V. In Liwa areas, it was at MII level IV-V. The shaking in Kepahiang, Rejang Lebong, Lebong, and Enggano was at MMI level IV.

Bengkulu City, Muko-muko, Argamakmur, Manna, Putri Hijau, Musi Rawas, South Oku, Lubuk Linggau, Lahat, and Pagar Alam was also jolted at MMI level III-IV, while Martapura, Panimbang, Ngaras, Bandar Lampung, Muara Dua, Semaka, Pematang Sawah, and Palembang at MMI level III.

The tremor was also felt in Bayah areas, Malingping, Ujung Kulon, Pesisir Tengah, and Labuan at MMI level II-III, as well as in Kerinci and Padang at MMI level II.

The BMKG official Daryono emphasized that the earthquake had no potential to trigger a tsunami. As of 22:30 local time, the agency did not monitor any aftershocks.

M ROSSENO AJI | MARIA FRANSISCA LAHUR

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