7 Richter Scale Earthquake Rocked Northern Lombok, Intial Tsunami Alert Activated
07 Agt 2018 12:02 WIB
Foto : 7 Richter Scale Earthquake Rocked Northern Lombok, Intial Tsunami Alert Activated ()
BMKG reported an earthquake with 6.8 Magnitude of the Richter Scale, with the epicentre appeared to be inland at the depth of 10km, 27 km north-western of North Lombok Regency, Nusa Tenggara Barat province, on Sunday (5/8/2018) at 18.46 WIB (West Indonesia time). Initial report suggested no potential for tsunami. However, BMKG later revised the initial report, with the earthquake now measured at 7 Magnitude of the Richter Scale, with the depth of 15km. Epicentre was identified to be 18km north-western of the North Lombok regency, Nusa Tenggara Province, with some potentials for tsunami.
Initial tsunami alert was activated. Tsunami potentials identified at the northern coasts of Lombok Barat and Lombok Timur. The alert status was set to Watch. Tsunami was anticipated to happen on 5 August 2018, at 18.48.35 WIB. The Watch alert status means the local government must prepare to issue early warning and request local residents to stay away from coastlines and river banks. The sea water was expected to go inland, but at a depth at less than 0.5 metre.
The BPBD has instructed the local residents to stay away from beaches and coastlines. Tremors were felt at Lombok island, the Sumbawa island, Bali island, and the eastern part of Jawa Timur. Heavy tremor was felt in the city of Mataram. Residents were rushing out of houses and buildings and remained outside despite the darkness due to electricity blackouts. There were several aftershocks. Up to now, 14 aftershocks have been identified.
BMKG reported that several tsunamis happened with height between 10 to 13 cm. Maximum tsunami height is estimated at 0.5 metre. The BMKG ended the tsunami initial alert.
Analysis of the shake map indicate the following tremor intensity: Mataram at VIII MMI, Karangasem at VI MMI, Ubud at V MMI, Denpasar at IV MMI, Kuta at IV MMI, Tabanan at V MMI, Singaraja at III MMI, Negara at IV MMI, Banyuwangi at III MMI, Jember at III MMI, and Malang at II MMI.
Initial information suggested that the area that will be experiencing the worst damage is the city of Mataram. The buildings were generally built with little intention to withstand earthquake above VI MMI. The intensity of the last earthquake in Mataram was measured at VIII MMI.
Sutopo Purwo Nugroho
Kepala Pusat Data Informasi dan Humas BNPB
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