It is possible that fatality is not caused (directly) by the earthquake, but because of the collapse of the buildings that are not earthquake-resistant.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that several houses in Tanimbar Islands District, Maluku Province, were allegedly damaged by a 7.5-magnitude (M) earthquake that jolted the province on early Tuesday morning.

One resident was also injured in the disaster, according to the Tanimbar Islands District Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), but no further details were available yet.

"Based on recent data, as of 8:13 WIB (Western Indonesia Standard Time), 15 residential units in Tanimbar Islands District were damaged,” Acting Head of BNPB’s Center for Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Abdul Muhari said in a statement on Tuesday.

Muhari remarked that one house was heavily damaged while the other three were moderately damaged, whereas the extent of damage caused to the remaining houses was still being assessed.

In addition, the Saumlaki Christian Junior High School as well as Saumlaki 1 Public Senior High School in South Tanimbar Sub-district, Tanimbar Islands District, were damaged.

According to BPBD, local residents felt the strong shocks of the quake for about three to five seconds and fled their houses in panic.

"BNPB’s Operations Management Center (Pusdalops) continues to monitor (the impact of the earthquake) and coordinate with BPBDs (of the regions) affected by the earthquake," Muhari stated.

BNPB appealed to local governments and residents to remain vigilant of the potential for aftershocks.

Hence, before returning to their homes, members of the community were urged to ensure there is no damage or cracks caused by the quake on the structure of their buildings.

"It is possible that fatality is not caused (directly) by the earthquake, but rather, because of the collapse of the buildings that are not earthquake-resistant," Muhari stated.

In addition, residents are appealed to not be easily influenced by fake news. They are urged to get the latest earthquake-related information from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), BNPB, or local BPBD.

Earlier on Tuesday, the BMKG issued a tsunami warning for the M7.5 earthquake.

Its epicenter was located at sea at 136 kilometers (km) to the northwest of Western Southwest Maluku -- now called Tanimbar Islands District -- at a depth of 130 km.

Two hours after the earthquake struck, the BMKG ended the warning.

The Government of South Timor Tengah District in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province also reported that several roads were allegedly damaged by the disaster.


Related news: Seven aftershocks occurred following M7.5 quake in Maluku: BMKG

Related news: BMKG ends tsunami early warning in Maluku



Translator: Devi Ramadhan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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