A powerful earthquake hit Indonesia, causing widespread damage to homes and buildings. The quake, which measured 5.7 on the Richter scale, struck near the island of Sumatra.
Over 100 houses were damaged, with at least 8 collapsing completely. Public buildings were also affected, with at least 6 reporting damage. Luckily, no deaths have been reported so far.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 68 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The Indonesian Meteorological Agency reported a slightly higher magnitude of 6.0, with a depth of 84 kilometers. They confirmed there is no risk of a tsunami.
Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), said the city of Bengkulu was badly hit. He reported that at least 140 houses were damaged, and many public buildings were affected.
Indonesia is located in the “Ring of Fire”, an area prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In 2021, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the island of Sulawesi, killing over 100 people. In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami hit the city of Palu, killing over 2,200 people. In 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake triggered a massive tsunami in Aceh province, killing over 170,000 people.
Source: channelnewsasia