Fri, 18 Aug 2000

Light tremors shake Bengkulu

BENGKULU, Bengkulu: A deep-seated earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale rocked Bengkulu and its surrounding villages on Wednesday morning. No casualties were reported.

The epicenter of the quake was located some 19 kilometers northwest of Bengkulu 80 kilometers under the seafloor.

Head of the Geophysics Station in Kepahiang district, Armyn Paimin, told Antara on Wednesday that another tremor measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale was also felt in Bengkulu on the same day.

The tremors scared locals as most of them have not recovered emotionally from the big earthquake last June.

At least 58 people were killed in the quake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale in early June. Hundreds of people were injured and thousands of buildings were destroyed by the massive tremors. (sur)