Jakarta, March 18 (IANS) – Indonesia experienced a series of earthquakes on Tuesday, with tremors affecting North Sumatra, Maluku, and East Nusa Tenggara provinces. According to the country’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the strongest tremor, measuring 5.5 in magnitude, struck North Sumatra province early in the morning.
The 5.5-magnitude earthquake occurred at 5:22 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located 17 kilometers southeast of North Tapanuli Regency at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The disaster resulted in one fatality and one injury, with significant structural damage reported. “Several houses and a road were severely damaged, rendering the road impassable for transport,” confirmed Sri Wahyuni Pancasilawati, head of the emergency, equipment, and logistics unit of the North Sumatra Provincial Disaster Management Agency. Risk assessments are currently underway to evaluate the full extent of the impact.
Earlier in the day, at 00:32 a.m. local time, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Maluku province. Initially reported as a 6.0-magnitude event, the BMKG later revised its assessment downward. Just ten minutes after the Maluku tremor, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded in East Nusa Tenggara province. Fortunately, no tsunami warnings were issued following these seismic activities, as they were not expected to generate large waves.
Indonesia, an archipelagic nation with 127 active volcanoes, frequently experiences earthquakes due to its position within the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire. This tectonic region is characterized by frequent seismic activity, including both earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Notably, the country has witnessed some of the world’s most catastrophic seismic events, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The magnitude 9.1 earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra triggered devastating waves that claimed over 165,000 lives in the region.
Indonesia’s seismic vulnerability is exacerbated by the complex interactions between multiple tectonic plates. While the Java-Sumatra subduction zone typically allows the Australian oceanic plate to slide beneath the Sunda plate, areas east of Java have experienced tectonic jamming due to the thicker and more buoyant Australian continental crust. This geological phenomenon increases the likelihood of powerful shallow earthquakes, further heightening Indonesia’s susceptibility to tsunamis.
Authorities continue to monitor seismic activity in the region and assess damages from the latest earthquakes. Emergency response teams are on high alert to provide necessary aid and infrastructure restoration in the affected areas.
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