Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG)detected a 6.4-magnitude earthquake in the Sarmi area, northern Papua, on Sunday at 12:16 a.m. Western Indonesia Time.

The earthquake was triggered by a thrust fault in the Anjak Mamberamo zone at a depth of 50 kilometers.

"It is a shallow type of earthquake due to thrust fault activity in the Anjak Mamberamo zone," the Head of the Earthquake and Tsunami Center of the agency Daryono said here on Sunday.

Daryono also updated information on the earthquake, which initially had a magnitude of 6.5 in the northeastern area of Kobagma, Papua Pegunungan, to a magnitude of 6.4 in the Bonggo area, Sarmi District, Papua.

"The epicenter of the earthquake is located at 2.96 south latitude and 139.42 east longitude or precisely located on land at a distance of one kilometer south of Bonggo, Sarmi, Papua, with an updated parameter of magnitude 6.4," he explained.

He explained it affected and was felt in the Jayapura District area with an intensity scale of III-IV MMI (modified mercalli intensity), meaning that if the earthquake occurred during the day, it would be felt by many people in the house.

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The earthquake was also felt in the Jayapura City area with a scale of III MMI, meaning that the vibrations were felt clearly in the house and that the vibrations felt as if a truck was passing by.

As of 12:42 a.m, the BMKG monitoring showed one aftershock.

"There have been no reports of damage caused by this earthquake," Daryono confirmed.

He appealed to the community to avoid buildings that were cracked or damaged due to the earthquake.

"Check and make sure the building where you live is earthquake resistant enough or that there is no damage due to earthquake vibrations that endangers the stability of the building before you return to the house," he urged people.

He appealed to the community to stay calm and not be influenced by information whose truth cannot be proven.

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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Raka Adji
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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