REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDARLAMPUNG -- The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that a 5.4-magnitude tectonic earthquake had jolted the Sunda Strait at 4:25 a.m. local time, Thursday. The shock did not trigger a Tsunami.
Bambang SP, the agency's acting chief, stated that the quake was centered at 6.54 degrees South Latitude and 104.75 degrees East Longitude, some 78 kilometers (km) under the sea. The quake's epicenter was situated about 71 km to the south of Belimbing, West Lampung District, Bambang noted.
According to the agency's shake map, the tremors were felt not only in West Lampung but also South Lampung and Ujung Kulon in Banten Province. Some villages affected by the quake include Liwa, Tanggamus, and Krui in Lampung, as well as Anyer and Labuan in Banten.
The agency explained that the quake occurred due to subduction of the earth's plates under the sea. Subduction is a geological term used when a plate moves underneath another plate. Following the quake, the agency has not yet detected the aftershocks.
Hence, the BMKG has called on the people to remain calm and avoid any fake news that may circulate online.
A 4.6-magnitude tectonic quake had also jolted the Simeulue District in Aceh Province at 12:14 a.m. local time on Wednesday (May 9). Despite the shock, the agency has yet to receive any reports of damages and fatalities.
In the past weeks, the geophysics agency has reported many quakes in several provinces, including Papua, West Papua, North Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, and West Nusa Tenggara.
Most tremors were triggered by the subduction of the earth plates under the sea.