As of 09:00 WIT, there were seven aftershocks (recorded) in the Maluku region.
Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency's (BMKG's) Ambon Geophysics Station recorded seven aftershocks after a 7.5-magnitude (M) earthquake struck Maluku Province at 2:47 a.m. Eastern Indonesia Standard Time (WIT) on Tuesday.

"As of 9:00 WIT, there were seven aftershocks (recorded) in the Maluku region," Lutfhy Pary, the coordinator for Data and Information of BMKG's Class I Ambon Geophysics Station, said here on Tuesday.

Pary noted that the aftershocks occurred with the largest magnitude of M5.7, while the smallest was recorded at M3.8.

According to information from his field team, the magnitude of the aftershocks was getting smaller, and the community did not feel them.

Epicenter of the earthquake was located at sea, some 136 kilometer (km) to the northwest of Southwest Maluku District, Maluku Province, at a depth of 130 km.

Earlier on Tuesday, head of BMKG’s Center for Earthquake and Tsunami, Daryono, noted that the M7.5 quake was felt in Saumlaki, Tanimbar Islands District, Maluku Province, at an intensity of V on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale.

The disaster damaged several buildings in the Saumlaki area, he pointed out.

The earthquake was also felt in the Dobo area, Aru Islands District, and Tiakur area, Southwest Maluku District, at MMI IV.

Meanwhile, residents in the Sorong and Kaimana regions in West Papua Province as well as Alor, Waingapu, Waijelu, and Lembata areas in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province felt the shocks at MMI III-IV.

Furthermore, people in the Kairatu areas in Maluku Province; Merauke and Tanah Merah regions in South Papua Province; Nabire area in Central Papua Province; Wamena area in Highland Papua Province; as well as Bakunase, Kolhua, Sabu, Rote, Ende, South Amarasi, and Kupang regions in NTT Province felt the vibrations at MMI II-III.

In addition, the shocks were felt at MMI II in the Ambon and Piru areas in Maluku Province.

The MMI V shocks were felt by almost all residents and caused several sleeping people to wake up. Meanwhile, the MMI IV scale tremors can cause pottery to break, windows and doors to creak, as well as walls to make noise.

MMI II scale shocks can cause hanging light objects to sway, while vibrations on the MMI III scale can be felt by people similar to a truck passing by.

Earlier, the BMKG had issued a tsunami early warning for residents of the provinces of Maluku and Southeast Sulawesi due to the M7.5 earthquake. However, the warning was called off two hours later.

Related news: BMKG ends tsunami early warning in Maluku

Related news: BMKG records 483 aftershocks after 4.9M-quake in Jayapura



Translator: Penina Mayaut, Uyu Liman
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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