Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - Some 93 earthquakes hit Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province, during the period from April 29 to May 5, 2022, according to the East Sumba Geophysics Station of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

Some 82 percent of the total events or 77 earthquakes were recorded to have a magnitude of lesser or equal to 3, Head of the East Sumba Geophysics Station Kustoro Hariyatmoko noted in a statement here on Friday.

Hariyatmoko remarked that 18 earthquakes had magnitudes of between 3 and 5 or 17.2 percent of the total tremors.

Meanwhile, based on the depth, 73 tremors had an epicenter of less than 60 km, while 16 had an epicenter of more than 60 km.

Sumba Island is often rocked by earthquakes, as it is located at the boundary of two tectonic plates: the Indo-Australian plate and Eurasian plate.

On August 19, 1977, the southern part of Sumba Island was hit by a tsunami wave triggered by an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter Scale.

On account of the fairly high intensity of earthquakes on Sumba Island, people are advised to remain vigilant, especially when a large earthquake hits.

"People need to continue to be alert, so that the impact of the earthquake can be minimized and ensure that it does not cause casualties," he stated.

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He also appealed to the public to monitor information from the BMKG as a reliable source, so that they can mitigate the impact of disasters properly.

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"Do not be influenced by earthquake information from unaccounted sources, especially those circulating on social media," Hariyatmoko remarked. 

Pewarta : Aloysius L, Fardah
Editor : Bernadus Tokan
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