Tsunami Warning Issued In Indonesia After 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake

Startling but not shocking news from Indonesia today.

Aljazeera has the scoop:

Indonesia’s geophysics agency has lifted a tsunami warning after a strong quake struck off the islands of Sumatra and Java.

The 6.9 magnitude quake struck offshore on Friday at a depth 42 kilometres, some 150 kilometres from Labuan, southwest of the capital Jakarta, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). 

The USGS initially put the quake’s magnitude at 6.8 before raising its intensity.

The geophysics agency said there was a risk of a tsunami of in southern parts of Pandeglang and Panaitan island in Banten province, and Lampung in Sumatra.

Indonesia’s disaster agency pegged the quake at magnitude 7.4 and warned it could spark a tsunami.

The agency called on residents on the Banten coast to “immediately evacuate to higher ground”.

“There are some areas at risk of a serious threat of a tsunami that could be as high as three metres,” said agency official Rahmat Triyono.

“We’re still waiting for reports about damage” from the quake, he added.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, but strong tremors were felt in the capital, Jakarta, prompting people to run from office buildings.

 The quake could also be felt in other cities such as Yogyakarta on Java island.

“It was so scary,” said Gustiani Pratiwi, who was carrying two children near an apartment block in Jakarta when she felt the quake strongly.

Not far from Jakarta, Jordy Smith once filmed his Stab in the Dark profile. Stab will also be returning to this region next week for a youth-inspired project.

Residing in the Pacific ring of fire, Indonesia is not unfamiliar with quakes of this magnitude. In 2004, a 9.5 earthquake (and its resulting tsunami) killed over 100,000 Indonesians. Last year, another tsunami hit the city of Palu and killed thousands more. 

We’re all hoping for a less disastrous result this time around.