Indonesia on alert after possible earthquake and tsunami

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Residents of the Catholic-majority region of eastern Indonesia that was hit by an earthquake with the potential to cause a tsunami are still on high alert in the wake of the quake’s continuing aftershocks.

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in the Flores Sea, north of the predominantly Catholic island of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara province, struck the island and its surrounding areas, including South and Southeast Sulawesi, at 10.13 a.m. on December 14.

No major damage was reported from the quake, which the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said was caused by a fault line shift.

The agency had issued an early tsunami warning with alert residents of Flores, especially the northern coast, causing panic on an island that was hit by a tsunami nearly 30 years ago. Videos circulating on social media showed people running into the streets.

And the agency announced that the warning ended after only two hours, after detecting an unnoticeable rise in sea level of 70 centimeters.

Although the tsunami early warning has ended, residents, especially in the northern Flores region, have to remain vigil as the aftershocks continue, agency chief Dwikorita Karnawati said at a press conference.

If a strong enough shock suddenly appears and lasts a little more than 10 times, immediately move to higher ground

She said they recorded at least 20 aftershocks of varying strength, with the highest magnitudes being 6.8.

“If suddenly there is a strong enough shock and it lasts a little more than 10 times, immediately go to higher ground,” she said.

“Although no tsunami sirens were sounded, such shocks constitute a form of early warning,” she added, saying that they confirmed that the sirens in the vulnerable area were operating normally.

Krnawati said residents have also been asked to be careful if they are in a house or room with a cracked wall.

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Father Thomas Lapina, parish priest of Larantuka Parish in East Flores province, closest to the epicenter, said he was having a meeting with teachers when the earthquake struck.

“We panicked and walked out of the room for a while,” he told UCA News. “We are continuing our activities as usual but are vigilant because we also felt the shaking during the aftershocks.”

He said they urged the still terrified residents of the surrounding community to remain calm while continuing to monitor the situation.

Hermelinda Njanim, a teacher in Rotting, said she felt a violent jolt that caused a drink bottle to fall on her desk.

“I was participating in a training activity via Zoom when the earthquake struck. I quit the activity for a while,” she said.

The Flores region was hit by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that triggered a powerful tsunami with waters up to 36 meters high on December 12, 1992.

She said she was still monitoring official information from the government about the situation.

The Flores region was hit by an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, which led to a powerful tsunami with a water height of 36 meters on December 12, 1992.

The earthquake hit the regions of Seca, Ngada, Ende and eastern Flores, killing at least 2,100 people, leaving 500 missing, injuring 447 and leaving 5,000 people homeless.

Indonesia, a vast archipelago of 280 million people, is frequently hit by earthquakes and tsunamis due to its location on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines that surround the Pacific Ocean.

The last earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale occurred in January in Central Sulawesi province, killing at least 105 people and injuring nearly 6,500.

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