A moderately strong earthquake struck late Sunday in Indonesia, affecting parts of the main island of Java and the country's capital. The earthquake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6, occurred at a shallow depth of 37.2 kilometers below the surface. The epicenter was located 80 kilometers west-southwest of Pelabuhanratu, a coastal town in West Java province.
Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency reported a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 for the quake, with a depth of 10 kilometers. While variations in early measurements are common, the earthquake was strongly felt in several cities and villages, causing some panic among residents.
Despite the strong tremors, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The agency confirmed that there was no risk of a tsunami following the earthquake but cautioned about potential aftershocks.
High-rise buildings in Jakarta swayed for several seconds, while even two-story homes in West Java's provincial capital of Bandung experienced significant shaking. The tremors were also felt in Jakarta's satellite cities of Bogor and Bekasi.
Indonesia, with a population of 270 million, is prone to seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' a region known for geological faults. Earthquakes are common in the archipelago nation, although it is unusual for them to be felt in Jakarta.
The country has a history of devastating earthquakes, with a magnitude 5.6 quake last year claiming the lives of at least 602 people in West Java's Cianjur city. The deadliest earthquake in recent years occurred in 2018 in Sulawesi, where a quake and tsunami killed over 4,300 individuals.
Indonesia's most tragic earthquake-related event was the 2004 Indian Ocean quake that triggered a tsunami, resulting in the loss of more than 230,000 lives across a dozen countries, with a significant number of casualties in Indonesia's Aceh province.
