BMKG: Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake in NTT Caused by Flores Back-Arc Thrust Fault

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has stated that the magnitude 7.7 earthquake which shook the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) region early on Saturday was caused by the Flores back-arc thrust fault.

“This is an earthquake mechanism caused by the Flores back-arc thrust fault,” said BMKG Director of Earthquakes and Tsunamis, Wijayanto, during a press conference in Jakarta on Saturday.

“A magnitude 7.7 earthquake behind the Flores arc has a maximum potential of 7.8 to 7.9. Today it has already released 7.7,” said Wijayanto.

He said that in 1992 there was a magnitude 7.5 earthquake which caused severe damage at the time.

“From the existing history, in 1992 it was magnitude 7.5. The damage was also extraordinary at that time. So, it has been more than 30 years, and it has occurred again. We will continue to monitor aftershock activity,” said Wijayanto.

BMKG has declared the tsunami early warning ended at 07:30 WIB.

The agency will continue to monitor aftershock activity and provide updated information to the public.

“We have ended the tsunami early warning, but of course we will continue to monitor sea level activity recorded at our stations,” said Wijayanto.