Ambon Panics as Series of Earthquakes Hit City
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10 October 2019 16:29 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Successive earthquakes that rocked Ambon city on Thursday afternoon, October 10 caused the public to panic. Most of the residents decided to evacuate themselves to the mountain area near the Maluku Province capital.
The series of shocks began after 13:30 local time when a size 5.2 earthquake rocked Ambon. Three minutes later, a 4.6-magnitude quake hit the city, followed by four more, weaker shocks.
The streak of shocks prompted residents to leave their workplaces and schools in panic as they dashed and scoured for a safe place to take shelter.
The quake-driven panic caused chaos as people scrambled to reach higher grounds. The situation caused traffic congestion in almost all central areas of Ambon City.
Some mothers could be seen running while crying as they fear for their children at school.
"I'm having difficulties contacting my child," a mother named Betty said.
The BMKG recorded that as of Thursday afternoon, 14:05 East Indonesia Time, eight aftershocks had occurred, with the largest quake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale.
ANTARA
