Magnitude 5.6 Earthquake Hits Gayo Lues, Aceh, Tremors Felt in Medan

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook Gayo Lues Regency, Aceh, on Wednesday at 11.18 WIB. Tremors were also felt by residents in several areas of North Sumatra, including Medan, causing momentary surprise.

Hendro Nugroho, Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Region 1, stated that the epicentre was located at coordinates 4.25 North Latitude and 97.62 East Longitude, approximately 41 kilometres northeast of Gayo Lues Regency, Aceh, at a depth of 10 kilometres. “The earthquake was triggered by activity on the Great Sumatran Fault or the Oreng Segment of the Semangko Fault,” Hendro told CNN Indonesia.

BMKG recorded the strongest shaking in the Gayo Lues area with an intensity of V MMI, a scale at which tremors are felt by almost all residents and some objects inside houses may shift. Meanwhile, shaking with an intensity of III to IV MMI was felt in Southwest Aceh. In Medan, Deliserdang Regency, Sibolga City, and South Aceh, the earthquake was felt at an intensity of III MMI, where vibrations are clearly felt indoors, akin to a large truck passing by.

Hendro added that BMKG had recorded at least five aftershocks shortly after the main earthquake, with the largest aftershock measuring magnitude 4.3. Despite the tremors being felt as far as Medan, BMKG confirmed that the earthquake had no tsunami potential. The public has been urged to remain calm and not to trust unverified information. BMKG continues to monitor aftershock activity and advises the public to follow official information disseminated through official BMKG channels.

In Medan, several residents reported feeling the shaking for a few seconds. Wiwin, a resident of Medan Johor, said, “I felt the shaking. At first, I thought it was because I hadn’t eaten or was just dizzy. But after checking the information, it turned out to be an earthquake.”