Indonesia Earthquake of 7.5-magnitude hits its remote area, tremors felt in Australia: According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), an earthquake of 7.5-magnitude struck in a remote area of Indonesia in the Banda Sea on Monday (Jun 24), but there were no initial tsunami warnings. The USGS further said that the quake hit at a depth of 220km (136 miles). There were no reports of casualties or any damage after the quake hit.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin, “A destructive Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected after the quake, which was initially recorded with a magnitude of 7.2.”
Indonesia’s disaster agency said, “The tremor was felt in faraway Bali, while residents of the northern Australian city of Darwin also felt it.”
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s report, the city evacuated parts of its central business district after the quake struck. Residents in the Northern Territory reported feeling tremors as far south as Katherine and Maningrida, more than 300km away.
The bureau of meteorology in Australia’s Northern Territory said on Twitter, “Wow, that was quite an impact for #Darwin, hope everyone is safe.”
The bureau, however, said there was no current tsunami threat to Australia.
Australia lies south of Indonesia, the world’s biggest archipelago nation, which is regularly struck by quakes.
According to the USGS, Indonesia’s Papua province was hit by a 6.1-magnitude earthquake, about 240km west of the town of Abepura, at a relatively shallow depth of 21km, earlier on Monday. There were no immediate reports of casualties after that quake.
Last week also, shallower 6.3-magnitude tremor hit the area, but the damage was not extensive.
Last year, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island killed more than 2,200 with a thousand more declared missing.
On Dec 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck Aceh province, causing a tsunami and killing more than 170,000.
Due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide, Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
