M5.3 Pangandaran Earthquake Tremors Felt in Bandung

An earthquake measuring magnitude 5.3 occurred at sea around 79 kilometres southwest of Pangandaran Regency, West Java, on Wednesday evening (5/8).

Citing a press release from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquake, which occurred at 21:55 WIB, had no tsunami potential.

BMKG stated that the tectonic earthquake’s tremors were reported to have been felt as far as Bandung Regency and Sukabumi Regency.

“BMKG analysis results show this earthquake has updated parameters with a magnitude of M5.2 at a depth of 14 km. The earthquake’s epicentre is located at coordinates 8.17° S; 107.86° E, precisely located at sea at a distance of 87 km southwest of Pangandaran, West Java,” the BMKG press release stated.

“Taking into account the location of the epicentre and the depth of its hypocentre, the earthquake that occurred is a shallow earthquake type due to activity on an active fault,” it continued.

BMKG stated that based on reports from the public, this earthquake was felt with an intensity scale of III MMI in Bandung Regency, namely in the districts of Arjasari, Kertasari, Baleendah, Dayeuhkolot, Majalaya, Nagrak, and Solokanjeruk.

This scale means the vibration was felt clearly inside houses. The shaking felt as if a lorry was passing by.

Then a scale of II-III MMI was felt in Soreang, Pangalengan, and Ciwidey, which are also still in Bandung Regency. It was also felt in Sukabumi Regency and City.

“II MMI (vibration felt by several people, light hanging objects sway) in Sumedang, Parongpong, Cihanjuang, Ngamprah, Lembang, and Pelabuhan Ratu,” it added.

Director of Earthquakes and Tsunami at BMKG Wijayanto stated in the press release that as of 22:30 WIB, BMKG monitoring results showed one aftershock activity with a magnitude of M2.2.