Magnitude-6.5 Earthquake Strikes off Indonesia’s Java Island, Forces Evacuations
A powerful magnitude-6.5 earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Java island on Saturday, sending shockwaves through the capital city of Jakarta and nearby areas. The country’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) reported the earthquake, while the United States Geological Survey recorded it at a magnitude of 6.1.
Residents in Jakarta and Bandung were forced to evacuate buildings as the ground shook beneath them. Iman Krisnawan, a 47-year-old resident of Bandung, described the terrifying experience, saying, “I screamed to my wife and kids to tell them to get out of the house. Usually, earthquakes lasted about 5 seconds, this one lasted between 10-15 seconds.”
Fortunately, there was no tsunami alert issued following the earthquake, with the BMKG reporting the depth of the quake at 68.3 kilometers (42 miles). Indonesia, known for its frequent seismic activity, sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to tectonic plate movements.
This recent earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters. In January 2021, a magnitude-6.2 quake on Sulawesi island claimed over 100 lives, while the devastating 2018 Palu earthquake and tsunami killed more than 2,200 people. The 2004 Aceh earthquake, measuring at a staggering magnitude of 9.1, triggered a tsunami that claimed the lives of over 170,000 people in Indonesia.
As Indonesia continues to grapple with the aftermath of this latest earthquake, the resilience of its people in the face of such adversity remains unwavering.
