Earthquake in Simalungun, North Sumatra Felt as Far as Malaysia

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake that shook Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra, on Saturday (15/8) at 5.54 p.m. Western Indonesia Time was felt as far away as Malaysia.

According to Antara, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said in a statement in Kuala Lumpur that the tremors were felt along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department stated that the earthquake did not pose a tsunami risk to Malaysia.

Based on information from Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the epicentre was located at 2.97 degrees north latitude and 98.95 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 163 kilometres. The earthquake’s centre was on land and did not have tsunami potential.

The North Sumatra Provincial Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reported that the earthquake was felt in several areas, including Simalungun Regency, Medan City, Pakpak Bharat Regency, and Central Tapanuli Regency.

In Simalungun Regency, Medan City, and Pakpak Regency, the earthquake was felt strongly for 30 seconds. In Central Tapanuli Regency, it was felt strongly for 10 seconds.

“The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), together with BPBD, Basarnas, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the Indonesian National Police, and other relevant parties, continues to monitor developments in the affected areas,” said Berton SP Panjaitan, Acting Head of the BNPB Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Centre, in a written statement on Saturday (15/8).

BNPB has deployed personnel to conduct assessments to determine the impact and the possibility of casualties resulting from the earthquake.

As of now, BNPB has not issued an official report regarding any casualties in the incident.

“BNPB urges the public to remain alert to the possibility of aftershocks that may still occur,” said Berton.