5.4 M Earthquake Jolts Maluku Today

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An earthquake measuring a magnitude of 5.4 on the Richter scale rocked the South Buru region, Maluku, at 10:43.23 Western Indonesian Time (WIB) today, May 10, 2022. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) updated the tectonic quake’s magnitude to 5.2.

The quake was centered at sea, 5.92° south latitude and 128.36° east longitude, or 86 kilometers south of Huamual, West Seram, Maluku, at a depth of 349 kilometers.

The agency’s head of the quake and tsunami Center, Bambang Setiyo Prayitno, confirmed that it was a deep quake triggered by the Banda subduction activity.

“The results of the analysis of the source mechanism show that it occurs on a strike-slip mechanism,” he said in a statement, Tuesday.

Based on the estimated shaking map, the tremor was felt in Damer and Amahai areas with an intensity scale of III Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and in the Huamual area with an intensity scale of II - III MMI.  

BMKG said there has been no report on the impact of the damage caused by the quake until now. In addition, the modeling results showed that it did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami. As of 11:07 WIB, there was no aftershock.

However, residents are encouraged to remain calm and not be provoked by baseless issues and avoid cracked or damaged buildings post the earthquake.

Read: West Halmahera Hit By M 5.6 Earthquake, BMKG Reports

MARIA FRANSISCA LAHUR