5.1 M Earthquake Rocks Banten's Lebak, Affects Depok and Tangerang

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An earthquake measuring 5.1 magnitudes in the Richter scale rocked Cigemlong of Lebak, Banten today, March 18, at 03:53:30 Western Indonesian Time (WIB).

Head of the quake and tsunami center of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Bambang Setiyo Prayitno, said based on the agency’s analysis, the quake’s magnitude was updated to 5.0.

Its epicenter was recorded at 6.75 degrees south latitude and 106.21 degrees east longitude at a depth of 154 kilometers.

Taking into account the location of the epicenter and the hypocenter, it was categorized as an intermediate quake triggered by plate subduction activity and originated from the downward shear movement (normal oblique).

The tremor was felt in Cibaliung at a weak intensity of level II-III of the MMI scale and weaker level I-II in Bogor, Depok, Karawaci, Tangerang and South Tangerang, and Pandeglang.

According to the modeling results, the quake had no potential for a tsunami.

As of 04:45 WIB, the BMKG did not record any aftershock. However, the public is asked to stay calm and not provoked by baseless issues, as well as avoid cracked or damaged buildings caused by the earthquake.

Read: Fukushima Earthquake; Indonesia Confirms Safety of Citizens in Japan

MARIA FRANSISCA LAHUR