REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAYAPURA -- An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale shook a region southeast of Boven Digoel, Papua, at around 8.35pm West Indonesia Time on Wednesday. This was the second quake that day with the first occurring at 11.45 local time in the sea east of Boven Digoel measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale.

The head of the earthquake and tsunami center of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics, Moch Riyadi, said the epicenter of the 6.3 magnitude quake was in the sea, 177 east of Ninati, Boven Digoel, at a depth of 12 kilometer.

"The quake was felt at VI MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) around the epicenter such as in the cities of Dofasi, Mogulu and Koroba in Papua New Guinea," he said.

Based on public reports the quake was felt very strongly in Merauke.

The shallow quake was caused by activity of New Guinea Highland Fold and Thrust Belt.

"In Papua New Guinea there is a Pacific and Indo-Australia fault line zone and so in line with the result of BMKG analysis the quake in the location was the result of Thrust Fault," he said.

The latest quake was one of the aftershocks of the quake that occurred on February 26.

He appealed to people around Boven Digoel and Merauke to remain calm and not influenced by rumors.

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