Rattled by Quakes Worldwide, Expert Says Tectonic Activity Remains Normal
A spate of earthquakes striking various countries in recent weeks does not indicate an unusual increase in activity along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The phenomenon is part of normal tectonic activity occurring independently in each region.
Daryono, a member of the Indonesian Association of Disaster Experts (IABI), stated that the perception the Pacific Ring of Fire is becoming more active is largely influenced by public awareness after witnessing several large earthquakes occur in close succession and spread rapidly through social media.
"Scientifically, there is actually no unusual increase in earthquake activity in the Pacific Ring of Fire. This region is indeed the location of about 90 per cent of the world’s earthquakes, so shaking is a normal activity that occurs every day," Daryono said in a written statement on Wednesday (15/7).
He explained that, based on data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), approximately 500,000 earthquakes are detected annually worldwide, including small tremors not felt by humans. Of that total, around 90 per cent, or roughly 450,000 earthquakes, occur in the Pacific Ring of Fire region. This means an average of about 1,200 earthquakes occur every day in the area, although most are small in magnitude and only recorded by seismic instruments.
According to Daryono, the perception that earthquake activity is increasing is influenced by several factors, including the time clustering effect, where several significant earthquakes coincidentally occur within a close timeframe. Furthermore, advances in information technology mean that every earthquake event in various parts of the world can be known to the public within minutes through earthquake monitoring applications, social media, and chat groups.
"What is actually increasing is the intensity of information dissemination, not the earthquake activity," he said.
Daryono also added that developments in monitoring technology mean the number of seismic stations worldwide continues to grow and they are increasingly sensitive in detecting earthquakes. As a result, small earthquakes or those occurring in remote areas can now be recorded more accurately compared to several decades ago.
He stressed that fluctuations in the number of earthquakes within a certain period are part of the normal cycle of tectonic plate energy release and are not a sign that the Pacific Ring of Fire is awakening or experiencing an unusual increase in activity. Therefore, the public is urged not to be easily influenced by narratives linking various earthquakes in distant locations as a single series of mutually triggering phenomena. Instead, the public is asked to continue relying on official information from earthquake monitoring and disaster agencies and to enhance preparedness for potential earthquakes that can indeed occur at any time in vulnerable areas, including Indonesia.