5.0M Earthquake Jolts Aceh This Morning

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A tectonic earthquake measuring 5.0 magnitude on the Richter scale jolted Banda Aceh this morning, September 12, at 05:09:24 Western Indonesia Time (WIB). The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that it was detected in the southwest coastal area of Aceh Besar, Aceh Province.

“The moderate earthquake was caused by the deformation of rocks in the Indo-Australian Plate which was subducted under the Eurasian Plate,” the agency’s head of the quake and tsunami center Daryono said on Tuesday.

Daryono explained that the quake occurred through a thrust fault mechanism. To be precise, it was centered in the sea, 42 kilometers northwest of Banda Aceh, at a depth of 85 kilometers.

The shaking was reported to be at level III on the MMI scale in Banda Aceh. Level III means that people indoors felt it as if a truck was passing by. 

There were no reports of damage caused by the temblor. Based on the modeling, the quake did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami. There was also no aftershock as of 05:30 WIB.

Daryono called on residents of Aceh and surrounding areas to remain calm and not be influenced by baseless rumors. He also asked people to avoid buildings damaged or cracked by the earthquake.

MARIA FRANSISCA LAHUR

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