Indonesia’s Java island was rattled by an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale on Saturday night. Shockwaves were sent across the region. Despite its intensity, there was no immediate tsunami alert issued by the state’s meteorological agencies. The quake, with its epicentre southwest of Garut Regency, was located at a depth of 10 kilometres.
#Gempa (UPDATE) Mag:6.5, 27-Apr-24 23:29:47 WIB, Lok:8.42 LS, 107.26 BT (Pusat gempa berada di laut 151 km barat daya Kabupaten Garut), Kedlmn:10 Km Dirasakan (MMI) IV Sukabumi, III-IV Bandung, III Tangerang #BMKG pic.twitter.com/7YzsMAeW4W
— BMKG (@infoBMKG) April 27, 2024
Impact of the Tremors
The tremors left residents in a state of panic, being felt in areas as far as Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, and other provinces including Banten, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java. In West Java, the quake’s intensity reached IV MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) in the towns Sukabumi and Tasikmalaya and III to IV MMI in Bandung. Despite the widespread tremors, there were no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties.
USGS’ Measurements
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the quake at a magnitude of 6.1 – slightly lower than the Indonesian agency’s measurement. It has been noted that the earthquake occurred within the volatile seismic zone known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire” where tectonic plates collide, making the region prone to intense activity.
The earthquake lasted for about 10-15 seconds, according to a resident of Bandung.
Account from Bandung, Indonesia
“I screamed to my wife and kids to tell them to get out of the house,” said Iman Krisnawan, a resident of Bandung, to AFP. “Usually, earthquakes lasted about 5 seconds, this one lasted between 10-15 seconds.”
תיעוד בשידור חי של רעידת האדמה בעוצמה 6.5 שהורגשה באי ג’אווה, שבאינדונזיה..#Indonesia #Earthquake pic.twitter.com/GLtyyOmleq
— מה חדש. What’s new❓ (@Gloz111) April 28, 2024
Indonesia has a troubled history with earthquakes and tsunamis, with them often resulting in significant loss of life and property. In 2021, a 6.2-magnitude quake on Sulawesi claimed over 100 lives and displaced thousands. Similarly, the devastating 2004 tsunami, triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Aceh province, resulted in widespread destruction, claiming the lives of over 170000 people across the region.
No Tsunami Alert
Despite residents’ fears, there was no tsunami alert issued by authorities. The quake’s depth, recorded as 68.3 kilometres by the USGS, likely contributed to the absence of significant tsunami risk.