Quake shakes Sorong, Manokwari

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)