Jakarta, IO – Sukabumi was hit by a 5.8-magnitude quake at the depth of 104 kilometers on Thursday (8/12). According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), it happened around 7:50 a.m. WIB. The tremors were also felt in Jakarta and a number of cities in West Java, including Rancaekek, Lembang, Bogor, Bandung, Pangandaran, Padalarang, Pamoyanan, Sumedang and Cianjur, Cisolok, Sumur, Garut, Bekasi and South Tangerang.
BMKG confirmed that the earthquake did not have the potential to cause a tsunami. It is not yet known whether there is any damage or casualties. Java has been rocked by frequent earthquakes recently and this has caused public concern and anxiety. However, earthquake expert and lecturer of geological engineering from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Gayatri Indah Marliyani asked the public not to worry excessively.
She said the string of earthquakes that had occurred recently were natural phenomena and were not related to one another. Earthquakes in Indonesia actually happen almost every day at low magnitude (M2-3). The medium ones (M4-5) are also quite frequent, while strong ones (M5 and above) happen almost every year, reported Tempo, Thursday (8/12).
Gayatri believes that the perception of increased frequency of earthquakes recently is more due to the speed of information and heightened public attention on the heels of the deadly and destructive earthquake in Cianjur.
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Therefore, Gayatri advised the public to be always vigilant as Indonesia is prone to earthquake due to its position in the so-called “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active belt of earthquake epicenters. The community should be educated on earthquake preparedness and response.
“There is no need to panic and worry too much about this natural phenomenon,” said Gayatri. (un)