5.4 M Earthquake Rocks Bengkulu in Early Hours Today

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An earthquake measuring a magnitude of 5.4 on the Richter scale shook Mukomuko of Bengkulu at 01:09 local time today, September 8, 2022. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that it was centered at sea and caused strong tremors up to level IV of the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI).

In detail, its epicenter was 42 kilometers southwest of Air Rami, Mukomuko, and at a depth of 54 kilometers. The agency confirmed that it has no potential to trigger a tsunami.

“It is a shallow quake due to the Indo-Australian Plate subducting under the Eurasian Plate,” said the agency’s acting head of the quake and tsunami center, Daryono, in a statement.

The shaking was felt in Mukomuko Regency, Ketahun of North Bengkulu Regency, and Kerinci of Jambi at an intensity scale of III-IV MMI. In Kepahiang, Rejang Lebong, Lebong, and Argamakmur, the tremor was reported at an intensity scale of III MMI. A weaker shaking occurred in the Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra.

The BMKG’s social media was swarmed by dozens of public reports. They claimed the earthquake was felt quite strong in their areas, such as Padang and Kerinci, hoping there would be no aftershocks.

MARIA FRANSISCA LAHUR

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