The agency's report quoted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Saturday showed that the local residents suffered injuries after being hit by several bricks that collapsed from their house's damaged wall.
The BNPB reported that the strong earthquake that jolted Jailolo Sub-district in Halmahera Barat District, North Maluku Province, on Thursday at around 11:17 p.m. local time also damaged three buildings in Minahasa Utara District, North Sulawesi Province.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), at least 150 aftershocks had rattled the areas of Jailolo Sub-district until Friday following the first strong earthquake.
The locals felt eight of the 150 aftershocks, while the magnitude of those aftershocks was recorded at between four and five on the Richter scale, the agency revealed in a press statement.
Speaking in connection with this strong earthquake ensued by repetitive aftershocks, BMKG Head Dwikorita Karnawati had earlier appealed to the local residents to remain calm but vigilant as a precautionary measure against any unwanted eventuality.
Located on the Circum-Pacific Belt, also called the Ring of Fire, the meeting point of several tectonic plates and characterized by recurrent volcanic and seismic activities, Indonesia is prone to experiencing natural disasters, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
On September 26, 2019, a 6.5-magnitude earthquake had rocked Maluku Province, claiming at least 38 lives and wounding 27 residents in Ambon City, 90 residents in Maluku Tengah District, and 32 residents in Western Seram District.
Due to the trauma and anxiety still experienced by local residents in the aftermath of this powerful earthquake, the BMKG recently cautioned Maluku Province's residents to not believe in rumors, fake news, and misleading information on a powerful earthquake and tsunami that could jolt Ambon, Masohi, and Banda.
The BMKG pointed out that accurately forecasting when and where the earthquakes would occur was beyond anyone’s realm of knowledge and understanding.
In 2018, the BMKG recorded that Indonesia had borne the impact of 11,577 earthquakes, including several causing grave casualties, with the number significantly rising than that in 2017.
The BMKG data showed that 11,577 earthquakes, with varying magnitudes and depths, hit during 2018, while just 7,172 earthquakes were recorded in 2017.
This indicates that Indonesia experienced a notable rise in the number of tectonic earthquakes last year.
Several earthquake-related events in Indonesia last year were the first of a kind to have occurred, such as the liquefaction in Palu, a tsunami that struck prior to the issuance of a tsunami warning in Palu, and the Sunda Strait Tsunami. Related news: North Maluku rattled by 150 aftershocks since Thursday evening: BMKG
Related news: Aftershocks jolt North Maluku following 7.1-magnitude earthquake: BMKG
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Reporter: Aditya Ramadhan, Rahmad Nasuti
Editor: Suharto
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