Simalungun Earthquake in North Sumatra Felt as Far as Aceh

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake centred in Simalungun Regency, North Sumatra Province, was also felt by residents in several parts of Aceh Province. The earthquake occurred on Saturday (15/8) at around 5.57 p.m. Western Indonesia Time at a depth of 163 kilometres, approximately 10 kilometres to the southeast. The tremors caused residents to panic and run out of their homes. ‘I panicked during the earthquake earlier; my children and I left the house because we were afraid of the shaking,’ said Sovi, a resident of Suak Ribee Village, Meulaboh, West Aceh Regency. The earthquake was also felt in Medan City, Tebingtinggi City, Kabanjahe City, and Limapuluh City. Head of the Regional Centre for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BBMKG) Region I Medan, Hendro Nugroho, said the epicentre was located at coordinates 2.97 North Latitude and 98.95 East Longitude, or about 10 kilometres southeast of Simalungun Regency and 12 kilometres northwest of Pematangsiantar City. He said the earthquake had no tsunami potential. Tremors were felt with varying intensity in several areas. In South Aceh Regency, Hendro added, shaking was felt at IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale. ‘Meanwhile, in Sibolga City, tremors were also felt at IV MMI. In Lubuk Pakam and Banda Aceh, the earthquake was felt at III MMI. In West Nias, South Nias, Nias Regency, and Gunungsitoli City, the earthquake was felt at II to III MMI.’