5.6M Earthquake Strikes West Coast of Sumatra; Tremor Reaches North Bengkulu

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported a tectonic earthquake that struck the West Coast of Sumatra on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 8:06 a.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB). Subsequent analysis revised the quake's magnitude to 5.6.

“The quake’s epicenter is located at coordinates 5.49° S; 102.62° E, or at sea at 42 kilometers southeast of Enggano, North Bengkulu, and Bengkulu, at a depth of 44 kilometers,” said Daryono, Head of the agency’s quake and tsunami center, in a written statement on Friday, September 6, 2024.

He explained that the quake was a shallow event resulting from the subduction of the Indo-Australian plate beneath the Eurasian plate. The quake exhibited a thrust fault mechanism.

The tremor was felt in the Enggano area with an intensity of III-IV MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity), while in Bengkulu City, North Bengkulu, and Kepahiang, the intensity was III MMI. In the West Coast and Liwa areas, the intensity was II MMI.

“The modeling results show that the earthquake does not have the potential to generate a tsunami,” Daryono affirmed.

As of 8:30 a.m., the BMKG monitoring had not detected any aftershocks. Daryono urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information.

IRSYAN HASYIM (CONTRIBUTOR)

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