6.0 M Earthquake Hits Mentawai, Padang

TEMPO.CO, Bandung - A tectonic earthquake measuring 6.0 magnitude in the Richter scale jolted the Mentawai Island area Tuesday morning, November 17, 2020, reaching Padang until Bukittinggi, West Sumatra.

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) informed that it originated in the sea and had no potential of a tsunami.

The agency’s head of quake and tsunami center, Rahmat Triyono, explained in his written statement that the tremor started at 08:44:07 Western Indonesian Time (WIB) with 6.3 M before it was updated to 6.0 M.

The epicenter was located at 2.90 degrees south latitude and 99.07 degrees east longitude, or precisely in the sea, 112 kilometers southwest of Tuapejat City, Mentawai Island. “It is classified as a shallow one at a depth of 13 kilometers,” Rahmat added.

The quake was triggered by the fault activity in the Investigator Fracture Zone (IFZ) which was adjacent to the plate boundary and generated by strike-slip fault.

Rahmat reiterated that the tremor was felt in the city of Padang, Painan, Sipora with III-IV MMI intensity level, as well as in Solok, Padang Panjang, Bukittinggi, Pariaman, and Kepahiang with II-III MMI intensity level.

There is no report of damage caused by the earthquake. Besides, the BMKG did not record aftershocks until 08:50 WIB.

Also Read: 5.2 M Earthquake Jolts Lebak, Pelabuhan Ratu

ANWAR SISWADI (CONTRIBUTOR)