We do not dare to stay at home for fear of aftershocksMamuju, W Sulawesi (ANTARA) - Thousands of people fled their homes to higher ground riding motorcycles and cars after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake rattled Mamuju City, West Sulawesi, on Wednesday afternoon.
“We do not dare to stay at home for fear of aftershocks,” Rafiudin, who is a resident of Simboro Village in Mamuju District, stated.
Rafiuddin remarked that he along with his family had rushed outdoors soon after they felt the earthquake on Wednesday afternoon.
“At the start, the tremor was not too strong. A few moments later, it was getting stronger, so I saved myself along with my children and wife soon,” he remarked.
By Wednesday evening, several residents still stayed in front of their homes.
"We are still traumatized by last year’s quake, so we will spend the night in the tent in front of our house,” he remarked while referring to the January 2021 earthquake that hit the area.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was located at sea, some 26 kilometers from Mamuju City, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The West Sulawesi Provincial Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has not issued an official statement about the impact of the earthquake.
Meanwhile, the Mamuju district BPBD has deployed its officers to help the affected residents.
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Translator: M.Faisal Hanapi, Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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