6.5 magnitude earthquake shakes Java island in Indonesia | Global News

A magnitude-6.5 earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Java island on Saturday, causing panic and forcing residents to evacuate buildings in the capital city of Jakarta and nearby Bandung. The quake, recorded at a magnitude of 6.1 by the United States Geological Survey, lasted between 10-15 seconds, longer than usual according to witnesses.

Iman Krisnawan, a 47-year-old resident of Bandung, described the terrifying moment, saying, “I screamed to my wife and kids to tell them to get out of the house.” Fortunately, there was no tsunami alert issued by the country’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG).

Indonesia, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, is no stranger to seismic activity. The region experiences frequent earthquakes due to the collision of tectonic plates. In January 2021, a magnitude-6.2 quake on Sulawesi island claimed over 100 lives and left thousands homeless. In 2018, a devastating magnitude-7.5 quake and tsunami in Palu killed more than 2,200 people. The most catastrophic event was the 2004 magnitude-9.1 quake in Aceh province, triggering a tsunami that killed over 170,000 people in Indonesia.

The recent earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the constant threat of natural disasters in the region and the importance of preparedness and response measures. As Indonesia continues to grapple with the aftermath of this latest quake, the resilience of its people in the face of adversity shines through.