7.5M Earthquake Damages Buildings in Maluku's Saumlaki

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake that hit Maluku and its vicinity today, January 10, 2023, at 00:47:34 western Indonesian time (WIB) damaged buildings and houses. Earlier, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a tsunami warning following the quake.

“Tsunami early warning due to the 7.9M Banda Sea earthquake was declared to have ended at 3:43 WIB,” wrote the agency’s head of the quake and tsunami center Daryono today.

“Based on 4 Tide Gauge observations around the source of the quake (Seira, Adaut, Lirang, and Larat), there were no significant anomalies or changes in sea level,” he explained.

Daryono, however, shared several photos of residents' houses that collapsed as a result of the big quake. “[It’s] destructive in Saumlaki.” he said. The number of damaged houses and victims was not yet revealed.

The shaking was felt strong in Saumlaki with an intensity of V Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI). It was also reported in Dobo and Tiakur with an intensity of IV MMI; in Sorong, Kaimana, Alor, Waingapu, Waijelu, and Lembata with an intensity of III-IV; in Kairatu, Merauke, Nabire, Tanah Merah, Wamena, Bakunase, Kolhua, Sabu, Rote, Ende, South Amarasi, and Kupang with an intensity of II-III MMI; as well as in Ambon and Piru with an intensity of II MMI. 

The BMKG's Geophysics Station in Ambon recorded seven aftershocks with the highest and the lowest magnitude of 5.7 and 3.8, respectively, as of 09:00 eastern Indonesian time (WIT). Based on the information from officers in the field, the shaking was not felt by the people.

MARIA FRANSISCA LAHUR

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