Magnitude 5.6 earthquake in Simeulue caused by Indo-Australian Plate subduction

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said a tectonic earthquake of magnitude 5.6 occurred on Sunday at 13:05:05 WIB in the Simeulue area, Aceh, as a result of the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate. ‘The earthquake is a shallow crustal event caused by the Indo-Australian Plate subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate,’ said Acting Director of BMKG’s Earthquakes and Tsunami Directorate Rahmat Triyono in a statement received on Sunday. BMKG’s analysis shows an updated magnitude of 5.3. The epicentre was located at 2.03° N, 96.49° E, offshore at a distance of 50 km to the southeast of Sinabang, Aceh, at a depth of 29 km. The source mechanism indicates a thrust movement. The earthquake was felt in Simeulue with an intensity of III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale (strong vibrations inside homes; like a passing truck), and in Subulussalam and Aceh Selatan with MMI II (felt by some people, light objects swayed). No damage has been reported. Modelling indicates no tsunami potential. As of 13:30 WIB, BMKG monitoring had not recorded aftershocks. Official information should come only from BMKG via verified channels: Instagram/Twitter @infoBMKG, website bmkg.go.id or inatews.bmkg.go.id, Telegram channel InaTEWS_BMKG, or mobile apps wrs-bmkg or infobmkg.