INDONESIA – On Wednesday, Indonesia’s Banda Sea was shaken by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake, as reported by the United States Geological Survey.
Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Despite the initial report of the quake as a magnitude 6.9, no tsunami warning was issued. The earthquake occurred at 11:53 a.m. local time (0453 GMT), according to the USGS.
In the Tanimbar Islands of the Indonesian archipelago, particularly in the town of Saumlaki, the tremor was moderately felt, as noted by the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency.
A Saumlaki resident, Lambert Tatang, described the earthquake as intense but mentioned that the local population did not panic, as they are accustomed to such seismic events.
“Especially after we learnt that there was no tsunami threat, so life is just normal now,” the 41-year-old said.
Indonesia is prone to frequent earthquakes due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area known for its significant seismic activity that extends from Japan, through Southeast Asia, and across the Pacific basin.
This event serves as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to geological disturbances.
In November 2022, a 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck West Java province, resulting in the tragic loss of 602 lives.
Additionally, the devastating 9.1-magnitude earthquake in 2004 off the coast of Sumatra triggered a tsunami that claimed the lives of 220,000 individuals across the region, with about 170,000 casualties in Indonesia. AFP