Tuesday's 5.9-magnitude Earthquake in Aceh Echoes Trauma of 2004 Quake and Tsunami
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30 May 2024 12:13 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A 5.9 magnitude tectonic earthquake shook several areas in Aceh, particularly Simeulue, on Tuesday evening, May 28 at 18:52. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said the epicenter of the earthquake was located in the sea at a distance of 95 kilometers northwest of Sinabang, Aceh at a depth of 22 kilometers.
Based on the location of the epicenter and hypocenter, the Aceh earthquake was classified as a shallow earthquake caused by plate subduction activity.
"The modeling results show that this earthquake does not have the potential to generate a tsunami," said Daryono, head of BMKG's Earthquake and Tsunami Center, in a statement released after the earthquake.
BMKG is urging the public to remain calm and disregard unverified information. "Avoid buildings that are cracked or damaged due to the earthquake," Daryono said.
When met after and event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Disaster Preparedness Cadets or Tagana in North Aceh on May 28, Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini said there had been no reports of damage from the earthquake.
Reminiscent of the traumatizing 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
The earthquake that struck northwest of Sinabang was reminiscent of the trauma of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami nearly 20 years ago. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the magnitude 9.1 earthquake was one of the strongest recorded this century, causing tsunamis that struck a number of coastal Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, including Aceh, and several nations in South Asia, including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and India.
At the time, the tsunami wave spread from the epicenter to the coast of Aceh in just 6 minutes, destroying Banda Aceh. The disaster claimed the lives of 226,308 people in the affected countries. Indonesia is the country with the highest number of victims: 173,741 people died and 394,539 were displaced.
ANANDA RIDHO SULISTYA | ZACHARIAS WURAGIL | HENDRIK KHOIRUL MUHID | SULTAN ABDURRAHMAN
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