BMKG Reveals NTT Earthquake 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 Saturday morning 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.

According to him, this fault has the potential to cause earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.8 to 7.9.

“The 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 there was a magnitude 7.5. The damage at that time was also extraordinary. 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 already ended the tsunami early warning, but of course we will continue to monitor sea level activity which will be recorded at our stations,” said Wijayanto.