JAKARTA, Aug 15 - A magnitude 6.4 earthquake jolted Indonesia’s North Sumatra province on Saturday evening, although authorities reported there was no tsunami threat.
The quake struck just hours after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara, killing at least 38 people.
Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Earthquake and Tsunami director Wijayanto said the earthquake occurred at 5.54pm Western Indonesian time, with its epicentre on land about 11km southeast of Simalungun at a depth of 168km.
No aftershocks were recorded as of 6.16pm local time, he added.
"Based on the epicentre location and hypocentre depth, the earthquake was an intermediate-depth earthquake caused by tectonic plate subduction activity," he said in a statement today.
Wijayanto said the tremors were strongly felt in several areas of North Sumatra, including Tebingtinggi, Kabanjahe and Limapuluh.
He advised residents to remain calm, disregard information from unverified sources and stay away from buildings that had cracked or been damaged by the earthquake.
Earlier on Saturday, a magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck near Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara at 4.58am local time, prompting a tsunami warning that BMKG lifted at 7.31am after sea-level observations showed no further significant rise.
Media reported that the quake and several strong aftershocks killed at least 38 people, while about 2,000 residents evacuated their homes following the disaster.
Meanwhile, in PENANG, Penang Fire and Rescue Department director Mohamad Shoki Hamzah said the department received nine emergency calls regarding the tremors at around 6.55pm.
The calls involved four areas in two districts on the island, as well as several areas in Seberang Perai, he added.
“Our personnel have gone to the locations and are conducting further inspections,” he told Bernama when contacted today.
The tremors, which lasted for several minutes, were reportedly felt in areas including Sungai Baru, Bayan Baru, George Town, Jelutong, Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi and Air Itam on the island, as well as Perai, Bagan, Teluk Air Tawar, Jalan Baru, Bukit Mertajam, Kepala Batas and Bertam in Seberang Perai.
A Bagan resident, Syahirah Mokhtar, 45, said she was initially startled when she felt the tremors at her home before contacting her child in Pantai Robina, Bagan, who also experienced the same phenomenon.
She said the tremors lasted about two to three minutes, with water in a cup placed on the table visibly moving. She then went downstairs and found that many residents of the apartment had also done the same.
“Many residents initially did not realise that the tremors were caused by an earthquake because they thought they were feeling dizzy. But some noticed that the hanging lights and ceiling fans in their homes were swaying, so we all decided to go downstairs because we were worried that something might happen,” she said.
Also, social media posts indicated that tremors could be felt in PERAK, including areas around Kuala Kangsar, Alor Pongsu and Bagan Serai, Teluk Intan, Ulu Kinta, Meru and Ipoh.
“Even Ulu Kinta felt the shaking…,” a social media user posted, while another also reported feeling the same tremors in Kuala Kangsar.
Meanwhile, Perak Fire and Rescue Department Operations Division assistant director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad told Bernama when contacted that the department had yet to receive any emergency calls related to the incident.
