The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that a 4.8-magnitude earthquake hit the province of Aceh this morning followed by several aftershocks, with preliminary reports showing various degrees of damage to buildings.
According to the agency, a 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck 5 kilometers southeast of the Aceh capital Banda Aceh at 5:31am. Numerous aftershocks followed since, including a 3.8-magnitude quake northwest of the island of Sabang at 7:58am.
#Gempa Mag:3.8, 04-Jun-20 07:58:09 WIB, Lok:5.93 LU, 94.99 BT (Pusat gempa berada di BaratLaut Kota Sabang), Kedlmn:10 Km Dirasakan (MMI) II Sabang #BMKG pic.twitter.com/GqeyRb47Vm
— BMKG (@infoBMKG) June 4, 2020
No tsunami warning was issued following the quakes, but photos have emerged showing collapsed walls and roofs in Sabang.
Thankfully, there have been no reports of any casualties.
Indonesia is one of the most disaster-hit nations on Earth due to its position straddling the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates collide.
It has been hit by a string of deadly quakes including a devastating 2004 tremor measuring 9.1 magnitude that struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including 168,000 in Indonesia.
The Boxing Day disaster was the world’s third biggest quake since 1900, and lifted the ocean floor in some places by 15 metres (50 feet).
Indonesia’s Aceh province is the hardest hit area, but the tsunami affects coastal areas as far away as Africa.
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