REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Bandung urged the public not to be panic with the wide-spread information on the possible bigger aftershocks. The news said, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake to hit on late Tuesday. "Do not get provoked," Head BMKG Bandung, Tony Agus Wijaya, Tuesday (January 23).

Meanwhile, chief editor of Singgalang daily, Khairul Jasmi, regretted 'earthquake effects' memes circulating in social media and instant messaging service applications on Tuesday. The man who has experienced strong earthquakes in Padang, West Sumatra, advised natural disaster should not be used as a joke. "It's not appropriate," he remarked. 

Khairul noticed at least there are two distrubing memes related to a 6.1 magnitude earthquake that jolted Lebak at 13:34 Western Indonesia Standard Time on Tuesday. He put memes of National Monument (Monas) that looked crooked and Pancoran statue jumped from his post as examples. "It was a bad joke, not funny," he reiterated.

He urged the people not to make fun of earthquake. He also called on the people and press not to spread hoaxes, in the form of photos, videos, or news. "Do Jakartans want to feel a 7.9 magnitude earthquake?" he said retorically when contacted by Republika.co.id, on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Khairul, memes artists' intention might be only to produce something funny. Nevertheless, it could distract people and affect their awareness to earthquake. "I know how it feels. The people  in Padang experienced it every months," he said.

A massive earthquake of magnitude 7.6 on Richter scale struck off the coast of West Sumatra on September 30, 2009. It caused major damage in Padang and Pariaman district. Around 1,117 people died, 1,214 people severely injured and 1,688 others suffered minor injuries.

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