Tarakan City placed on alert status following magnitude 7.7 earthquake

Tarakan City, North Kalimantan Province, has entered a state of alert based on information from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) following a magnitude 7.7 tectonic earthquake in Mindanao, Philippines, which occurred on Monday at 06:37 WIB.

“The centre of this tectonic earthquake is located specifically in the South Coast region of Mindanao, Philippines,” stated Wijayanto, Director of Earthquakes and Tsunamis at BMKG, in a press release on Monday.

BMKG analysis indicates that the updated parameters of the earthquake show a magnitude of M7.7, with the epicentre located at coordinates 5.80°N; 125.14°E, specifically in the sea at a distance of 244 kilometres northwest of Karatung Island, North Sulawesi, at a depth of 47 km.

According to Wijayanto, considering the location of the epicentre and the depth of the hypocentre, the earthquake is classified as a shallow earthquake caused by plate subduction activity.

Modelling results indicate that this earthquake carries a tsunami potential, with ‘alert’ (siaga) status issued for Minahasa, Bolaangmongondow, Manado, North Minahasa, South Minahasa, Buol, Sangihe Islands, Gorontalo, Talaud Islands, Minahasa Islands, Toli-toli, Palu, Donggala, Ternate, and Bitung.

“A ‘warning’ (waspada) status has been issued for Tidore City, Bulungan, Nunukan, Halmahera, Tarakan City, North Halmahera, East Kutai, South Minahasa, Bontang, and Berau,” he added.

Regarding this potential threat, the recommendation for regions under ‘alert’ status is to move away from the coast towards safer, higher ground. For those under ‘warning’ status, residents are advised to avoid the coast and refrain from any activities near the shoreline or riverbanks.

“As of 07:00 WIB, BMKG monitoring has detected one aftershock with a maximum magnitude of M6.7,” he concluded.