20 Trains Halted After M 3.5 Bantul Earthquake
A magnitude 3.5 earthquake struck Bantul on Thursday afternoon, with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reporting that the tremor was felt as far as Klaten, Solo, and Magelang. As a result of the earthquake, 20 trains in the KAI Operational Area 6 Yogyakarta were temporarily brought to an extraordinary stop.
According to BMKG, the earthquake occurred at 5.20 pm Western Indonesia Time on Thursday (20/8). The tectonic earthquake was caused by activity on the Opak Fault and did not have tsunami potential. BMKG recorded the epicentre at 7.887 degrees South latitude and 110.45567 degrees East longitude, located 11 km northeast of Bantul, Yogyakarta, at a depth of 21 km.
Head of the Sleman Geophysics Station Ardhianto Septiadhi stated that the earthquake was a shallow earthquake resulting from Opak Fault activity. The tremor was felt at intensity III MMI in Bantul and Yogyakarta City, described as similar to a loaded lorry passing by. In Kulon Progo, Sleman, Klaten, Solo, and Magelang, the earthquake was felt at intensity II MMI, where vibrations were felt by some people and light hanging objects swayed. No damage had been reported as a result of the earthquake.
As of 5.39 pm Western Indonesia Time, BMKG had not recorded any aftershocks. The public was urged to remain vigilant and not be influenced by unverified information.
Following the earthquake, 20 train journeys in the KAI Operational Area 6 Yogyakarta were brought to an extraordinary stop for several minutes. Train journeys resumed after inspections of railway infrastructure and facilities were carried out. At 5.42 pm Western Indonesia Time, all railway lines were declared safe and all halted trains were able to continue their journeys.
KAI Operational Area 6 Yogyakarta Public Relations Manager Feni Novida Saragih explained that the inspection was a mandatory procedure following an earthquake, carried out to ensure the safety of train travel. KAI apologised for the inconvenience caused to affected passengers and thanked customers for their patience. The company emphasised that safety remains the priority in train operations, and journeys resumed once inspections were completed and all lines were declared safe.
The 20 trains that were temporarily halted included the Jayakarta, BIAS, Brantas, Commuterline Palur-Yogyakarta, Cilace Trans, Logawa, YIA Airport Train, Senja Utama Yogyakarta, Cilawalu Service, Malabar, Commuterline Yogyakarta-Palur, Sancaka, Batavia, Bengawan, Kalem Service, Prameks, YIA Airport Train, Manahan, Wijaya Kusuma, and YIA Airport Train services, with stoppages ranging from 10 to 25 minutes.