TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale shook the Gunung Kidul Regency of Yogyakarta, today, July 20, at 11:12. The epicenter of the quake was located in the sea about 135 kilometers southwest of Gunung Kidul Regency.
Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Yogyakarta, I Nyoman Sukanta told Antara today. He said the position of the epicenter was at 9.25 degrees south latitude (LS) and 110.42 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 23 kilometers.
“Judging from the depth of the hypocenter, the earthquake does not have the potential to trigger a tsunami,” said I Nyoman Sukanta
According to Sukanta, the earthquake was caused by the subduction of two continental plates in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Based on a map of tectonic arrangements, there are indeed subduction zones in the South Indian Ocean region.
“Because of the subduction of two plates, namely Indoaustralia and Eurasia, events like these can happen at any time,” he said.
According to Nyoman, the earthquake tremor was felt in Gunung Kidul Regency, and Yogyakarta City to Trenggalek, East Java with a medium shock scale, between II-III MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity). A number of residents around Klaten, Central Java also claimed to feel the quake. “It was pretty strong here,” said Siti, a student who was on the fourth floor of a hospital in Klaten when the earthquake struck.
Nyoman said until 11:23, the BMKG monitoring results have not shown any activity of an aftershock.
“People of Yogyakarta and surrounding areas are encouraged to remain calm.”
VINDRY FLORENTIN | ANTARA