Earthquakes
|
BERNAMA.COM
www.bernama.com
TOLITOLI (CENTRAL SULAWESI), Oct 20 (Bernama) -- A tectonic earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale shook Tolitoli, Central Sulawesi Province, at 11.54 am Western Indonesian Time (WIB) or 12.57 am local time, on Monday.
The earthquake's epicenter was located at 0.20 degrees northern latitude and 120.64 degrees eastern longitude, at a depth of 33 km below sea level, around 96 km southwest of Tolitoli, Indonesia's ANTARA news agency quoted the National Meteorology and Geophysics Office (BMG) as saying on Monday.
Tolitoli residents panicked and rushed out of their homes when they felt the powerful temblor at between the fourth and fifth level of MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity).
"The earthquake was so strong that people who were standing, were tossed about," Ridwan, a Tolitoli inhabitant, said.
School children and civil servants rushed out of their school and office buildings out of concern that the buildings would collapse.
Meanwhile, Tolitoli District Head Ma'ruf Bantilan instructed local officials to report on damage, injuries or casualties from the quake. The temblor was also felt by residents of Gorontalo at III-MMI, Poso at III-IV MMI and Palu at II-MMI.
Earlier, on Monday, a 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit Jayapura, Papua Province, at 6.29 am WIB.
The quake's epicenter was located at 3.63 degrees southern latitude and 140.02 degrees eastern longitude, at a depth of 54 km below sea level, around 144 km southwest of Jayapura. The tremor was felt at II-III MMI in Genyem.
 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. -- Luke 21:11
|
