Tectonic Earthquake Rattles Aceh's Siemeulue Island

TEMPO.CO, Bandung - A tectonic earthquake shook the region of the Island of Simeulue, Aceh, on Tuesday, January 7, 2020, at 13.05 p.m. BMKG's head of Earthquake and Tsunami mitigation, Daryono, stated the magnitude of the quake was 6.1 from previously announced at 6.4.

“There is no early warning, [and the] quake has no potential of a tsunami,” he said.

The epicenter was at 2.3 south latitude and 96.32 east longitude. The exact location was at sea, 19 kilometers south of Sinabang, Simeulue Regency, Aceh, at a depth of 20 kilometers.

In a written explanation, Daryono said, the quake was relatively shallow due to the activity of the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate which subducted into mantle realms under the Eurasian Plate in the zone of the megathrust. Based on the analysis, it was caused by a thrust fault.

The tremor was felt in Simeulue in the intensity of IV MMI and many people ran outside of their houses. Meanwhile in Tapak Tuan, Singkil, North Nias, and Gunung Sitoli, the earthquake was felt in the intensity of III MMI.

While in Medan it reached II-III MMI, as well as in West Nias and Meulaboh at II MMI. An aftershock with a magnitude of 3.3 was recorded at 01:45 p.m.

The Island of Simeulue is prone to earthquakes and tsunami. Historical records show some of the strong quakes never occur in this region. In 907, Simeulue was hit by a 7.6 magnitude quake which triggered a tsunami.

On November 2, 2002, a powerful quake jolted this region with a magnitude of 7.2. Another strong earthquake hit on February 20, 2008, with a magnitude of 7.3. The series of the quakes inflicted damages.

Anwar Siswadi | Safira Andini