BPBD: No damage reported in West Aceh following Simalungun earthquake

Meulaboh (ANTARA) - The West Aceh Regency Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has stated that no building damage has been found in the area following the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that shook Simalungun, North Sumatra, on Saturday afternoon (15/8).

“Although it caused panic among residents due to the earthquake, so far we have not found any damage to buildings owned by the public,” said Acting Head of the West Aceh Regency BPBD, Teuku Ronal, to reporters on Saturday evening.

He explained that the earthquake tremors originating from Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra, were felt by most residents of Meulaboh City and its surroundings at an intensity scale of V MMI. At this intensity level, vibrations are felt by almost the entire population and have the potential to wake sleeping residents.

“Based on monitoring reports in the field until Saturday evening, there have been no reports of building damage or casualties in West Aceh Regency,” he said.

According to data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquake’s epicentre was located at coordinates 2.97 North Latitude and 98.95 East Longitude, precisely on land at a distance of 11 km east of Simalungun, North Sumatra, with a hypocentre depth of 163 km.

Teuku Ronal also urged the people of West Aceh Regency to remain calm and not be influenced by issues whose truth cannot be accounted for. The West Aceh BPBD continues to keep personnel on standby to monitor the post-earthquake situation across all sub-districts.