Muara Teweh (Antaranews) - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported the City of Muara Teweh, North Barito, Central Kalimantan, was jolted by an earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale (SR) on Thursday, January 31, 2019 at around 9.38 am.
"According to information from the MBKG-BKB (Balikpapan Geophysical Station, East Kalimantan) we received this earthquake is suspected to be due to a fault (patahan)," BMKG North Barito head Sudarmono said through the Head of the Technician Group Sunardi in Muara Teweh on Thursday.
According to Sunardi, the results of the BMKG analysis showed that the location of the earthquake was at 0.83 South Latitude and 114.88 East Longitude or precisely at a distance of 12 kilometers north of Muara Teweh with a depth of 10 kilometers.
The earthquake was felt by residents in Muara Teweh as well as in a number of other places including Jambu and Jingah Village, Teweh Baru Subdistrict, to Transbandep Hamlet, South Teweh District.
"In this area earthquake shocks were reported to be felt by many people, even some residents in schools and offices fled to save themselves," said Sunardi.
Taking into account the location of the epicenter and the depth of the hypocenter, this shock is a shallow earthquake due to local fault activity.
"Regarding the earthquake, up to this report, there has not been any aftershock activity. The people are encouraged to remain calm and continue to follow the direction of BPBD and BMKG," he said.
Sunardi explained, BMKG Barito Utara has an earthquake and tsunami detection tool (Tsunami Early Warning System/TEWS). This tool, he said, serves to help the BMKG monitor the earthquake and tsunami that occurred in the area of Kalimantan Island or specifically around the Sulawesi sea.
"This tool is only a sensor, which automatically provides information at the BMKG Center if an earthquake occurs," he said.
