According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquake's epicentre was located 86 kilometres southwest of Bantul District in the Indian Ocean. The earthquake has no tsunami potential.
"Several homes are damaged on the roof, but so far, no reports about casualties due to the earthquake earlier this evening at 7:57 p.m. Western Indonesia Time," the agency's Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Centre acting head, Abdul Muhari, stated here on Friday.
Muhari noted that according to preliminary data, light damages were reported in eight homes and one educational facility in Yogyakarta's Gunung Kidul District.
Meanwhile, Yogyakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency Operation Control Centre, as of Friday at 8:50 p.m. local time, reported damages have occurred at 15 houses, one government facility, one healthcare facility, and two educational facilities in the districts of Gunung Kidul, Bantul, and Kulon Progo.
The BMKG, as of Friday at 8:40 p.m. local time, also reported five aftershocks, with the strongest registered at 4.5 magnitude.
The official stated that the BMKG analysis showed the 6.4-magnitude earthquake is an intermediate earthquake due to its hypocentre depth of 25 kilometres.
The earthquake was caused by the subduction of Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates and had a thrust fault mechanism, he remarked.
The BNPB reported that residents in Gunung Kidul, Bantul, and Kulon Progo experienced the earthquake with strong intensity. The tremor was also felt by residents throughout the neighbouring Central Java.
Muhari appealed to residents to be vigilant of potential aftershocks, ensure conditions are safe before returning indoors, and prepare well if deciding to evacuate to safer places.
"The BNPB also asked residents to not be triggered by false information or hoaxes related to the earthquake," the agency centre head remarked.
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Translator: Devi Nindy Sari R, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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