According to an assessment by the Meteorology Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the epicenter was located 10 kilometers from the earth's surface, some 15.3 kilometers from southeastern Kairatu Island, or 42 kilometers from northeastern Ambon City.
"The quake was triggered by an active fault," Head of BMKG's Earthquake Mitigation Daryono noted in a statement on Thursday.
Based on the epicenter's location, Daryono confirmed that it was categorized as a shallow quake caused by a local active fault.
"The analysis results suggest that this quake was triggered by rock deformation from a strike-slip fault," he explained.
According to BMKG’s announcement, the 6.5-magnitude quake that struck Maluku had no potential to trigger a tsunami. However, strong tremors were also felt in the Tihule and Latu Islands, with an intensity scale of V-VI MMI, as well as in Banda Island with II MMI.
"These regions can potentially incur damage," Daryono stated.
The BMKG reported that up until 7:45 a.m. local time, 10 aftershocks were felt, with an average magnitude of 5.6.
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Translator: Muhammad Zulfikar, Azizah Fitr
Editor: Sri Haryati
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