REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TERNATE -- Earthquakes were recorded four times shaking Ambon and its surrounding areas in the last 12 days. Monday (14/12), an earthquake occurred at 10:46 local time with a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter Scale (RS).
Previously, the earthquake also occurred twice on Wednesday (9/12), the day of regional head elections. The first tremor occurred at 17:21 local time with a magnitude of 6.9 RS. Then a few minutes later at 18:15 local time, the tremor occurred again with magnitude of 5.0 RS.
The two earthquakes, based on data of Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), occurred around the Banda Sea at a depth of 10 kilometers within 999 kilometers southeast of Central Maluku.
BMKG stated the quakes have no potential to cause tsunamis. However, the quakes were felt strong in Ambon, Banda, and Central Maluku for three to five seconds.
Read: In 12 days, Ambon rocked by earthquakes four times
Meanwhile, an earthquake also occurred Wednesday (2/12) with a magnitude of 4.8 RS. The quake struck West Halmahera, North Maluku. The quake was also felt by residents in Ternate, capital of North Maluku.
"As a result of the quake, residents in Tuada coast and Todowonge, Jailolo District, ran away because of fear of tsunami," said Chief of Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) West Halmahera, Chalid Ismail, in Ternate.
A similar shock was also experienced by citizens in Banehena, Payo, Bobo, Idamdehe, Payo and other villages. Chalid said the quake with a depth of 10 kilometers, took place on the land, so it would not cause a tsunami.
Maluku province is one of the areas that is prone to earthquakes and tsunamis, because it lies at the confluence of three major plates, namely Pacific, Indo Australia and Eurasia. Indo Australia plate got under Eurasia plate and met Pacific plate which was resulting irregular fracture.
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