TEMPO.CO, Banda Aceh - Residents of Banda Aceh City, Aceh Besar District, Pidie District, Pidie Jaya District and Bireun District have been told to remain calm and not get affected by tsunami rumors. “Particularly people in Banda Aceh and Pidie Jaya, we ask you not to reactto tsunami rumors because the earthquake has no potential to cause a tsunami, it happened on land,” said Erdiwati, head of the Geophysics Station in Mata le, Aceh Besar, on Wednesday, December 7, 2016.
According to Eridawati, the earthquake occurred at 5:03 am local time. The epicenter of the quake was at a latitude of 5.19 degrees north and a longitude of 96.36 degrees east, at a depth of 10 kilometers. The earthquake was felt almost across Aceh.
Erdiawati explained that the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency’s (BMKG) ShakeMap indicates that strong quake was felt in Banda Aceh at Intensity II SIG-BMKG or (III-IV MMI). People of Banda Aceh rushed out of their houses to save their lives.
Tempo learned the earthquake has reportedly destroyed multiple buildings in Pidie Jaya and Pidie. The sub-districts of Meureudu, Tringgadeng and Pateraya suffer the worst damage in Pidie Jaya District, 170 kilometers from Banda Aceh.
ADI WARSIDI
