Palu, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale jolted the Central Sulawesi Provincial capital of Palu at 7.20 am Central Indonesia Standard Time (WITA) on Saturday.

Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was located at 0.83 South Latitude (LS) and 119.83 East Longitude (BT).

"The earthquake was at nine kilometers northwest of Palu, Central Sulawesi, at a depth of 10 kilometers," BMKG wrote in its official announcement on Saturday morning.

However, the Agency stated that the 5.1 magnitude earthquake did not have the potential to cause a tsunami. Until now, the impact caused by the earthquake has not been known to shake the people of Palu for a few seconds.

Earlier on Sept 18, a tectonic earthquake occurred twice in a row for five minutes each, measuring 4.8 and 4.0 on the Richter scale, which shook the Sigli region, Pidie Regency, Aceh Province.

The BMKG Geophysics Station Mata I`e Banda Aceh reported that the first 4.8 SR earthquake occurred at 2.35 pm, with the position of the epicenter at 5.17 North latitude and 96.23 East longitude.

The earthquake was located on land with a distance of some 36 kilometers to the southeast of Sigli, and some seven kilometers in the ground.

Then, the second earthquake or aftershock with a 4.0 SR low occurred at 14.38 WIB, and the epicenter point was 5.31 North latitude and 96.04 East longitude.

This aftershock was exactly 10 kilometers to the southeast of Sigli, and some 10 kilometers in the ground.

Reporting by Fauzi
Editing by Otniel Tamindael

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Editor: Heru Purwanto
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