JAKARTA: At least 62 aftershocks were recorded within just over two hours after a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Southwest Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, early Sunday.
Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Acting Deputy for Geophysics Ardhasena Sopaheluwakan said the aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 1.5 to 4.3, were recorded as of 8.05 am local time after the main quake struck at 5.55 am.
"We will continue to monitor aftershock activity and provide updated information to stakeholders and the public,” he told a press conference streamed live.
BMKG revised the earthquake's magnitude to 5.9 from an initial 6.1, placing it at a depth of 30 kilometres with its epicentre in the sea about 59 kilometres southwest of Kodi, Southwest Sumba.
Ardhasena said the strongest tremors were felt in parts of Kodi, where the shaking was strong enough to startle residents and sent many rushing outdoors, while the agency's modelling showed the earthquake posed no tsunami threat.
On how long the aftershocks could continue, BMKG's Earthquake Information and Tsunami Early Warning Dissemination Operations Officer Dr Bayu Pranata said, the agency would need about two days of additional data before providing a firmer estimate of their decay, although preliminary estimates indicated they could persist for less than a month.
He said the sequence was not expected to last as long as the aftershocks from the Aug 15 Flores earthquake, which were still continuing and were expected to persist for about one to two months, as Sunday's earthquake was of a lower magnitude.
Meanwhile, the agency's Engineering Seismology, Potential Geophysics and Time Signs Director, Teguh Rahayu, said one person suffered minor injuries, while damage reported in several areas was categorised as moderate as of 8.40 am.
"Damage was reported in Pero Konda, involving an Islamic primary school and two houses,” she said.
Rahayu said BMKG was continuing to coordinate with the local disaster management agency and its East Sumba Geophysics Station to monitor developments and obtain further reports of damage, while a survey of the earthquake's impact would also be conducted. - Bernama
