The tremors occurred at 2:48 am on Tuesday (local time), with the epicenter located 62 km southeast of Sinabang city in Simeulue Regency, at a depth of 30 km below sea level.
Earthquake in Indonesia: An earthquake of 5.9 magnitude on the Richter Scale hit Indonesia’s western Aceh province early Tuesday, according to the country’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The tremor was initially recorded at 6.2 magnitude, but was later revised down. As per Xinhua news agency, the tremors occurred at 2:48 am (local time), with the epicenter located 62 km southeast of Sinabang city in Simeulue Regency, at a depth of 30 km below sea level.
No Tsunami warning yet
BMKG confirmed that no tsunami warning has been issued so far, as the quake did not trigger any significant sea wave activity. “There are no reports of serious damage or casualties so far, especially in Simeulue Regency, the region closest to the epicenter,” Xinhua News Agency quoted a senior official from the Provincial Disaster Mitigation Agency as saying.
The country was hit by an earthquake last month as well, when a relatively powerful quake struck near Masohi, Kabupaten Maluku Tengah. The quake had occurred at 2:32 am on March 17 (local time) at a shallow depth of 10 km, making it more likely to be strongly felt by residents in the affected areas.
Indonesia lies in seismic hot zone
Indonesia is an archipelagic nation which lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly seismic zone prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The country is home to 127 active volcanoes and regularly experiences tectonic movements, making earthquake preparedness a key part of national safety measures.
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