Strong Quake Rattles Islands, Damages Homes in Indonesia’s Maluku

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – A 7.5-magnitude earthquake jolted eastern Indonesia, damaging several houses in the Tanimbar Islands district in Maluku province early Tuesday, Jan. 10, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

At the time of publication, a resident was also injured in the disaster but no further details were available, said a local official from the Tanimbar Islands District Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).

"Based on recent data, as of 8:13 a.m. local time, 15 residential units in Tanimbar Islands District were damaged,” acting head of BNPB’s Center for Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Abdul Muhari said in a statement.

Muhari said that one house was heavily damaged while the other three were moderately damaged, whereas the extent of damage caused to the remaining houses was still being assessed.

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In addition, the Saumlaki Christian Junior High School as well as Saumlaki 1 Public Senior High School in South Tanimbar Sub-district, Tanimbar Islands District, were damaged.

According to BPBD, residents felt the strong shocks of the quake for about three to five seconds and fled their houses in panic.

"BNPB’s Operations Management Center [Pusdalops] continues to monitor [the impact of the earthquake] and coordinate with some BPBDs affected by the earthquake," Muhari said.

BNPB called on the local governments and residents to remain vigilant of the potential for aftershocks.

Hence, before returning to their homes, members of the community were urged to ensure there is no damage or cracks caused by the quake on the structure of their buildings.

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"It is possible that fatality is not caused [directly] by the earthquake, but rather, because of the collapse of the buildings that are not earthquake-resistant," Muhari said.

In addition, residents are urged to not be easily influenced by fake news. They should get the latest earthquake-related information from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), BNPB, or local BPBD.

Earlier on Tuesday, the BMKG issued a tsunami warning for the 7.5-magnitude earthquake.

The epicenter of the quake was 136 kilometers northwest of Western Southwest Maluku or known as the Tanimbar Islands district at a depth of 130 kilometers.
Two hours after the earthquake struck, the BMKG ended the warning.

The Government of South Timor Tengah District in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province also reported that several roads were allegedly damaged by the disaster.