Fresh quake hits Kendari, Luwuk Banggai islands
Fresh quake hits Kendari, Luwuk Banggai islands
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): An earthquake jolted the
Southeast capital of Kendari in the early hours of Monday
morning, but the local meteorology and geophysics agency ruled
out any connection with the ongoing tremors that have
subsequently devastated neighboring Peleng Island in Central
Sulawesi.
No fatalities were reported in the quake, but a few buildings
suffered minor damages.
Chief of the agency Sunaryo said the temblor in Kendari
measured 5.6 on the Richter scale.
It took place around 4 a.m. local time, to the surprise of
residents, many of whom were performing dawn prayers.
Two aftershocks that occurred later caused people to flee
their homes.
According to Sunaryo, the earthquake's epicenter was located
at Wowoni Strait, about 30 kilometers southeast of Kendari.
"The temblor in Kendari and the one in Peleng, however, are
not related. Kendari and the waters off Southeast Sulawesi lie in
the meeting point between the Indo-Australia and the Euro-Asia
tectonic plates, an area which is prone to earthquakes," Sunaryo
explained.
The quake also left cracks on the third floor of the Southeast
Sulawesi governor's office in Kendari, he said.
"We hope there are no casualties and are awaiting reports from
remote areas which also experienced the temblor," he said.
More aftershocks have been felt in the last two days on Peleng
Island in Luwuk Banggai district, where a strong quake and a
tsunami killed at least 45 people, injured more than 100 and left
30,000 homeless on May 4.
The latest tremor at dawn Monday was measured at 5.2 on the
Richter scale, causing panic among thousands of refugees
sheltered in several camps.
A house reportedly collapsed in Bangkep regency, but witnesses
said it was already severely damaged after the previous quake.
No less than 237 school buildings and thousands of houses were
destroyed in the earthquake in Luwuk Banggai, with total losses
reaching Rp 250 billion.
Visiting Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and
Poverty Eradication Basri Hasanuddin said on Sunday in a meeting
with local legislators that the government plans to declare the
earthquake a national disaster. (27/edt)