It is terrible. We were not allowed to go downstairs.
Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - A 5.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the Yogyakarta Special Province on Monday morning set off panic among the residents, who scrambled out of their homes.

The quake set off panic among tens of COVID-19 patients treated at the shelter of the Indonesian Islamic University (UII) on Kaliurang Street in Sleman District. Some of them fled to the terrace of the four-story building while awaiting normalcy to be restored in the situation.

Soon after the tremors stopped, they returned to their rooms at the building.

"It is terrible. We were not allowed to go downstairs," Ayu, one of the patients treated at the shelter, noted.

The quake also caused the residents of Sidoagung, Godean, and Sleman to stay outdoors.


Related news: UMI-BMKG collaboration on cards for joint quake research in Samosir

Related news: Earthquake: Mamuju assessment team validating data on incurred damage


Purnomo Edi, one of the residents of Sidoagung, said he felt the quake quite strongly.

When the quake hit, Edi was still in bed. He felt the bed shaking, so he woke up soon.

"Hence, I stayed outdoors and so did the other residents," he remarked.

Tria, a resident of Margoluwih, Godean, Sleman, noted that despite the quake having lasted for a short period of time, she felt it akin to a quake that hit the region in 2006.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck Yogyakarta Special Province on Monday at 5:15 a.m. local time.

The epicenter of the quake was located at sea, some 66 kilometers south of Wonosari, the capital of Gunung Kidul District, Yogyakarta, at a depth of 61 kilometers. However, no tsunami warning was issued.

The agency noted that the quake was also felt in the districts and cities of Bantul, Gunungkidul, Purworejo, Trenggalek, Tulungagung, Blitar, Nganjuk, Sleman, Yogyakarta, Klaten, Cilacap, Kebumen, Banjarnegara, Malang, and Solo.

Related news: 11,500 Jakartans get COVID-19 jabs at Bung Karno Stadium

Related news: Need to expedite indigenous vaccine production amid supply uncertainty

EDITED BY INE

Translator: Luqman Hakim/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2021