BMKG: 5.2M Earthquake Jolts Papua This Afternoon

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An earthquake of 5.2 magnitude rocked Central Mamberamo Regency in Papua Province at 03:31 p.m. WIB (Western Indonesia Time), on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the earthquake occurred on land, 22 kilometers northeast of Kasonaweja Village, Papua. The center of the quake was at 16-kilometer depth.

Head of the BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Center, Daryono, said that the intensity of the shaking due to the earthquake reached the MMI IV scale in the Apawer Hulu, Central Mamberamo, Mamberamo Hilir, Burmeso City, Sarmi City areas. "People inside a residential building could feel the earthquake,” he said in a written statement, shortly after the incident.

The people of Tolikara City, Kotamulia City, and Tiom City also felt the earthquake at  II-III MMI, akin to trucks passing by. Daryono confirmed that there had been no reports of damage caused by the earthquake.

"The modeling results show that this earthquake does not have the potential for a tsunami," he said.

Judging from the epicenter and the depth of the hypocenter, it was a shallow earthquake caused by thrust fault activity in Mamberamo. "This earthquake activity has an upward movement mechanism or thrust fault," said Daryono.

Until four this afternoon, there were no signs of aftershock or subsequent quake. However, the BMKG team still urges the public to remain calm and not be influenced by unclear information. 

YOHANES PASKALIS

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