Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) reported that a magnitude-6.5 earthquake occurred off the coast of Java island on Saturday.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.1 according to the United States Geological Survey, caused people in Jakarta to evacuate buildings and was also felt in nearby Bandung.
No tsunami alert was issued by BMKG, and the (USGS) recorded the earthquake’s depth at 68.3 kilometers (42 miles).
Indonesia, situated on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ encounters frequent earthquakes due to its location where tectonic plates collide. This seismic activity extends from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
In January 2021, a magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck Sulawesi island, resulting in over 100 fatalities and leaving thousands homeless. Similarly, in 2018, a magnitude-7.5 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Palu, Sulawesi, claimed the lives of more than 2,200 people.
Additionally, the devastating 2004 magnitude-9.1 earthquake in Aceh province triggered a tsunami that led to the loss of over 170,000 lives in Indonesia.
ALSO READ | Taiwan Struck by 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake: No Immediate Damage Reports
