After being shaken by an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 SR on Friday, today Saturday, April 22, 2017 an earthquake with a magnitude below 5 on the Richter Scale (SR) again shook the West Sumatra region. Even unmitigated, from noon to this afternoon there were at least five tectonic earthquakes.
According to the Head of the Lower Silaing Class 1 Geophysical Station, Padang Panjang City, West Sumatra, Rahmat Triyono, the five tectonic earthquakes that occurred since this afternoon were shallow earthquakes below 5 SR. To date, there are no reports felt by the community surrounding the epicenter.
Rahmat added, although the five earthquakes that occurred today did not have an impact felt so as not to cause public panic because the strength of the earthquake was small, this showed that the west coast of Sumatra was an area with high seismic activity. With the occurrence of five such earthquakes there has been a release of energy albeit on a small scale.
Based on BMKG Padang Panjang data records, he continued, throughout 2016 there have been 195 earthquakes in the West Sumatra region. 17 earthquakes of which were earthquakes felt by the community and one damaging earthquake on June 2, 2016 which occurred on the South Coast. This shows that the West Sumatra region does have a high level of tectonic activity.
“Thus, BMKG Padang Panjang appeals to the community, especially in the West Sumatra Region, to remain calm and always increase vigilance because earthquakes can occur at any time and until now have not been predicted,” he said.
Previously, BMKG Padang Panjang noted, the first earthquake with a magnitude of 2.7 SR occurred in the sea of South Pesisir Regency, precisely 28 km southwest of Air Haji, earthquake coordinates 2.14 LS and 100.75 BT, depth 2 km.
This shallow earthquake occurred at 12:37:45 pm. Although it is a shallow earthquake, it is not felt by the people around the epicenter. This is due to the relatively small strength of the earthquake.
The second earthquake event was only 17 minutes away from the first earthquake, this earthquake with a magnitude of 3.2 SR occurred in the sea of Mentawai Islands District. Precisely 20 km South of Silabu, North Pagai Island with earthquake coordinates 2.95 LS and 100.02 BT, depth 23 km.
This shallow earthquake occurred at 12:54:24 pm. Although it included a shallow earthquake, there were no reports of people being felt around the epicenter.
The third earthquake was 1 hour 30 minutes away from the second earthquake, The epicenter of the third earthquake with a magnitude of 2.8 SR was still in the sea area of South Pesisir Regency.
Precisely 57 km West of Air Haji with earthquake coordinates 1.98 LS and 100.38 BT, depth 10 km. This shallow earthquake occurred at 14:25:59 WIB. Although it included a shallow earthquake, there were no reports of people being felt around the epicenter.
The fourth earthquake was 18 minutes away from the third earthquake, this earthquake with a magnitude of 4.0 SR occurred in the sea area about 63 km northeast of Siberut Island, Mentawai Islands Regency, with earthquake coordinates 0.63 LS and 99.30 BT, at a depth of 63 km.
This earthquake with a medium depth occurred at 14:43:32 WIB. There were no reports felt by the public who were in the vicinity of the epicenter.
Finally, the fifth earthquake with a magnitude of 2.9 SR occurred in the sea area of South Pesisir Regency precisely 45 km southwest of Air Haji, with earthquake coordinates of 2.24 LS and 100.62 BT, at a depth of 10 km. The five tectonic earthquakes have no tsunami potential. (VIVA)
