At least eight people were killed and hundreds were injured after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Majene regency in West Sulawesi and its surrounding areas this morning, with tremors reportedly felt in Central Sulawesi’s Palu and South Sulawesi’s Makassar.
Indonesia’s Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) said the quake’s epicenter was 6 kilometers northeast of Majene. It hit at a depth of 10 kilometers at 2:28am local time. No tsunami warning was issued.
#Gempa Mag:6.2, 15-Jan-21 01:28:17 WIB, Lok:2.98 LS, 118.94 BT (Pusat gempa berada di darat 6 km TimurLaut Majene), Kedlmn:10 Km Dirasakan (MMI) IV-V Majene, III Palu, II Makasar #BMKG pic.twitter.com/xdXvC6dYhZ
— BMKG (@infoBMKG) January 14, 2021
The earthquake also affected the neighboring regency of Mamuju, with local authorities reporting that West Sulawesi Governor’s office, a hotel, and a minimarket were heavily damaged as a result. Today’s quake was preceded by a 5.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Majene yesterday afternoon at around 2:30pm.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that eight people died in the quake and 637 were injured as of 11:10am today. Around 16,000 people were reportedly displaced in the region.
The quake damaged one puskesmas (community health center) and triggered landslides in three spots along the Majene-Mamuju road, as well as resulting in blackouts and unstable cellular network in both regencies, among others.
President Joko Widodo has reportedly instructed Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini and Indonesia’s COVID-19 task force head Doni Monardo to head to Mamuju today.
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Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect the latest casualty count.
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