TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An earthquake measuring a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale jolted North Maluku early morning on February 24, at 05:02 local time or 03:02 western Indonesian time (WIB). The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded that the tremor could be felt strong up to the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) level IV.

The epicenter was detected in the sea, 142 kilometers northwest of Daruba, Morotai Island, North Maluku, and at a depth of 107 kilometers. The agency stated that the quake had no potential to trigger a tsunami.

Daryono, the head of the agency’s quake and tsunami center, explained that it was an intermediate quake caused by the subduction activity of the Philippine sea plates.

The shaking was felt the strongest in the North Sulawesi areas, namely Tahuna (Sangihe Islands), Melonguane (Talaud Islands), and Siau (Siau Islands) at the MMI level IV.

In Manado, Bitung, and North Minahasa of North Sulawesi, as well as in Tobelo and Morotai of North Maluku, the tremor was at MMI level III-IV. In Tondano, Tomohon, and Southeast Minahasa, shaking was detected at MMI level III. It also reached Sorong, Southwest Papua at a weak intensity of MMI level II.

As of 03:45 WIB, the BMKG detected one aftershock.

MARIA FRANSISCA LAHUR

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