As of tonight, each City or District BPBD has reported that the quakes, centered at sea in the territory of Tuban District had caused no damage
Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA) - Two powerful earthquakes respectively measuring 5.6 and 6.0 on the Richter scale hit the waters of Tuban District, East Java province, Thursday afternoon but without causing any damage to buildings. The East Java Provincial Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD) recorded the earthquakes that were felt in 10 districts and municipalities in the province.

"As of tonight, each City or District BPBD has reported that the quakes, centered at sea in the territory of Tuban District had caused no damage," Acting Chief of the East Java BPBD Suban Wahyudiono said Thursday night.

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The earthquakes were felt in the districts of Banyuwangi, Lumajang, Jember, Trenggalek, Tuban, Malang, and Pacitan, and in the cities of Surabaya and Malang, he said.

The two earthquakes occurred within a span of 25 minutes. However, they did not have the potential to cause a tsunami, Chief of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Station in Tuban District Desindra Dedi Kurniawan said.

"Only vibrations were reported in the districts and cities. Until tonight there was no sign of a tsunami, so we hope those living in coastal areas remain calm," he said.

The two earthquakes of magnitude 5.6 and 6.0 struck at 2.06 p.m. and 2.31 p.m. respectively, Thursday afternoon.

The epicenter of the 5.6-magnitude earthquake was located 58 kilometers northwest of Tuban District at a depth of 656 kilometers while the 6.0 magnitude earthquake was located 56 kilometers off the district at a depth of 648 kilometers, according to the BMKG.

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Translator: A Malik Ibrahim/Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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