TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) through the Medan Regional I Center confirmed the rumor saying the 4.7-magnitude earthquake in Karo Regency, North Sumatra that occurred on Thursday night, was generated by the volcanic activity of Mount Sinabung, is a hoax.

Information about the quake that would trigger a huge eruption of the volcano was also fake news.

Hendro Nugroho, the Head of BMKG Medan Regional I, explained that the quake occurring on Thursday, at 21:56 Western Indonesian Time (WIB) was due to local fault activity in Tanah Karo Regency. The epicenter was detected at nine kilometers southwest of Karo Regency and at a depth of five kilometers.

The shaking was felt in Kaban Jahe and Munte areas in Karo Regency up to the IV MMI scale. On that scale, when a quake occurs during the day, the tremors can be felt by many people indoors, pottery breaks, windows/doors are disturbed, and walls were making cracking sounds.

In other areas, such as Sidikalang of Dairi Regency, the tremors can be felt weaker at the II MMI scale. “This is a tectonic quake, not the result of volcanic activity,” Hendro said in a statement.

He added that the BMKG had coordinated with the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). Based on the monitoring results, no activity from Mount Sinabung, and the earthquake originated from the local Karo fault activity. The exact time and location of the next earthquake cannot be predicted.

MARIA FRANSISCA LAHUR

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