Tomini Bay 5.4-M Earthquake due to Sulawesi Sea Slab Deformation, Says BMKG

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit Tomini Bay, Bone Bolango, Gorontalo, Sunday morning, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported.

"By looking at the epicenter and the hypocenter, the earthquake was an intermediate type due to the slab deformation of the Sulawesi Sea plate," Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center Daryono said here on Sunday.

The earthquake's coordinates were recorded at 0.05 degrees South Latitude, 123.15 degrees East Longitude, 65 km to the southeast of Bonebolango City, Gorontalo, and at a depth of 141 km.

"The result of the source mechanism analysis shows that the earthquake had an oblique normal fault mechanism," Daryono said.

The earthquake was felt in Gorontalo City, Gorolontalo District, and Luwuk, Banggai District, with an intensity scale of MMI I-II, meaning several people felt the vibrations and light and hanging objects swayed because of the tremors.

As of Sunday morning, there have been no reports of damage caused by the earthquake. The modeling results also showed that the earthquake did not potentially cause tsunamis.

"As of 09:10 a.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB), BMKG monitoring results have not shown any aftershock activity," Daryono noted.

BMKG advised the public to remain calm and not be affected by unreliable information and avoid cracked or damaged buildings due to earthquakes.

The agency asked residents to check the conditions of the house first before entering and make sure they are earthquake-resistant.

BMKG channels its official information at @infoBMKG on Instagram/Twitter; websites www.bmkg.go.id/inatews.bmkg.go.id, https://t.me/InaTEWS_BMKG on Telegram, and app infobmkg available on IOS and Android.

Aishma, a resident of Titidu Village, Kwandang sub-district, said she felt the vibrations quite strongly and had to wake up her children.

She said the quake did not last long but the tremors were strongly felt.

"I was shocked because I was inside the house, but not too panicked because the earthquake was strong but it did not last long," she commented.

ANTARA

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