M5.3 Pangandaran Earthquake Tremors Felt in Bandung

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 occurred at sea, 79 kilometres southwest of Pangandaran Regency, West Java, on Wednesday evening. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed the tectonic earthquake, which struck at 21:55 WIB, did not have the potential to cause a tsunami. BMKG stated that tremors from the earthquake were reported to have been felt as far as Bandung and Sukabumi regencies. According to the agency’s updated analysis, the earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2 and a depth of 14 kilometres. The epicentre was located at coordinates 8.17° South latitude and 107.86° East longitude, precisely in the sea 87 kilometres southwest of Pangandaran, West Java. BMKG noted that considering the location of the epicentre and the depth of the hypocentre, the earthquake was a shallow type caused by activity on an active fault. Based on community reports, the earthquake was felt at an intensity scale of III MMI in several districts of Bandung Regency, including Arjasari, Kertasari, Baleendah, Dayeuhkolot, Majalaya, Nagrak, and Solokanjeruk. This scale indicates that vibrations were clearly felt inside houses, as if a truck were passing by. Meanwhile, an intensity of II-III MMI was felt in Soreang, Pangalengan, and Ciwidey, also in Bandung Regency, as well as in Sukabumi Regency and City. An intensity of II MMI, where vibrations are felt by only a few people and light hanging objects sway, was reported in Sumedang, Parongpong, Cihanjuang, Ngamprah, Lembang, and Pelabuhan Ratu. BMKG’s Director of Earthquakes and Tsunamis, Wijayanto, stated in the press release that as of 22:30 WIB, monitoring had detected one aftershock with a magnitude of 2.2.