Shallow Earthquake Jolts Banten, Sukabumi

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A tectonic earthquake measuring at 4.9 magnitudes jolted parts of Banten until Sukabumi, at 1:33 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported. Sourced from the waters of the Indonesian Ocean south of Banten, the quake did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami.

Based on the agency’s data and public reports, light tremor with an intensity scale of I Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) was felt in Sumur, Pandeglang, Labuan, Muarabinuangeun, Bayah, Wanasalam, Malingping, Cimanyangray, Gunung Kencana, and Rangkasbitung.

The shaking was also felt in Sukabumi, Pelabuhanratu, Cipamingkis, Ujung Genteng, and Panimbang at an intensity scale of II MMI.

Until now, the agency said there have been no reports of damaged buildings as a result of the quake which was located at 7.02 degrees south latitude and 105.49 degrees east longitude.

“To be precise, it is located at sea, 41 kilometers southwest of Sumur of Banten,” said Hendro Nugroho, Head of Tangerang Regional BMKG II, in a written statement, Thursday.

The earthquake was at a depth of 15 kilometers and was classified as a shallow quake due to the activity of faults or seabed faults. Based on the BMKG monitoring until 2:03 p.m., there were no aftershocks and tsunami potential.

Read: Minor Earthquake Shakes Cianjur in West Java

ANWAR SISWADI (CONTRIBUTOR)