"The tsunamis were detected at 6.50pm in Bitung and at 7.05pm in Halmahera," National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) official Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told ANTARA, when contacted from here on Friday.
Sutopo said the height of the tsunami was only 0.1 meter. "It was only 0.1 meter high," he said.
He said that although it was very small the tide was a tsunami. "Unlike common waves, tsunami is not caused by winds but by energy from the bottom of the sea," he said.
Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono had earlier called on people, especially those living in eastern regions, to be alert over possible tsunami following the main tsunami in Japan earlier.
"According to reports that came to us it is possible that the earthquake that happened in Japan followed by a tsunami would move to Indonesia. This is just a mere prediction but it would be better if we are all alert," he said.
Agung has also asked the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency to keep monitoring the tsunami development.
The minister however called on the people to remain calm and not to panic so that situation remained conducive.(*)
Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
