Quake shakes Sorong, Manokwari

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: An earthquake registering 5.5 on the Richter scale rocked the towns of Manokwari and Sorong Saturday afternoon, a Meteorological and Geophysics Agency employee said.

Margiono said the earthquake occurred at 1:01 p.m. local time, with the epicenter 120 kilometers west of Manokwari, which experienced Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) levels of three to four and Sorong MMI levels of two.

"At MMI levels of three to four, people can notice their personal belongings shaking in their homes and a truck shaking on the road, while at MMI levels of two, people would be unaware there was an earthquake," he said.

Earthquakes have 12 MMI levels. He dubbed MMI level 12 as "doomsday". Nine to 11 would show cracks in the earth, break underground water and gas pipes, damage earthquake-resistant buildings, he said.

MMI levels of seven to eight would damage already poorly constructed buildings but not earthquake-resistant buildings, and noticeable feelings of the "shakes" can be felt while driving at MMI levels of five to six, he said.

Margiono said he had yet to receive information on damage to property and possible casualties in either city.

Manokwari and Sorong are located in the northwest area of Irian Jaya, with a distance of 300 kilometers between the two cities. (01)