Singaporeans going about their Fridays were interrupted by tremors from a massive earthquake across the strait in Indonesia.
They then turned to social media to share videos and stories of shuddering fish tanks, broken bowls and swaying lamps, among many accounts from across the country this morning after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit the West Pasaman Regency of West Sumatra Province.
The National Environment Agency posted an advisory this morning saying that the earthquake was detected at 9:39am Singapore time, approximately 438 kilometers from the city-state, at a depth of 10 kilometers. No tsunami warning was issued.
West Sumatra hit with 6.2-magnitude earthquake with jolts reportedly felt in Malaysia, Singapore
Among the experiences shared, Redditor Acecheong, who lives in the Northern East, witnessed his ceiling lamp sway for a good 30 seconds despite closed windows and no aircon or fans.
Another saw the water in a fish tank with a lone fish shake from side to side.
But few realized what it was, based on their comments.
Some said that while they too felt the tremors from different areas of the country, they passed it off as a dizzy spell, heart attack, or thought they’d gone “crazy.” One Tanah Merah resident even thought their chair had been “possessed.”
Morning-dreaders who were still in bed, however, said they did not feel anything.
No casualties have been reported in the affected areas of Sumatra, but dozens of buildings have been wrecked.
The police and the civil defense team today said they received reports about the tremors and confirmed there were no reports of injuries. They told the public to stay calm and listed a bunch of things to do or stay away from if it happens again.
The advisories also stated that most Singapore buildings are “sufficiently robust” and designed to “withstand tremors.”
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