Tsunami Warning: North Kalimantan Residents Urged to Remain Calm and Avoid Panic

Tarakan, North Kalimantan — Coastal communities in North Kalimantan Province are urged to remain calm and avoid panic following a tsunami warning issued by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) after a 7.7 magnitude tectonic earthquake in Mindanao, Philippines.

“We are reporting that a 7.7 magnitude earthquake has occurred in Sangihe, which has tsunami potential,” stated the Head of BMKG Tarakan, Muhammad Sulam Khilmi, in Tarakan on Monday.

He noted that the potential impact includes North Kalimantan Province, specifically Tarakan, Nunukan, and several coastal areas in Tanah Kuning, Mangkupadi, Bulungan, and the surrounding regions.

Furthermore, he mentioned that the estimated arrival of tsunami waves in North Kalimantan is expected between 08:06 and 08:27 WIB (09:06 to 09:27 WITA), with estimated wave heights in Tarakan ranging from 0 to 0.5 metres.

“This is an early warning. Therefore, we ask the public not to panic and to continue following official information from trusted sources,” he advised.

The Acting Secretary of Tarakan, Ilyas, also urged residents of Tarakan, particularly those in coastal areas, to remain alert and not to believe inaccurate information.

“We urge the community to remain calm and vigilant, and to listen to or pay attention to official information from the BMKG, the police, and the government, specifically the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), to avoid panic,” he said.