Indonesia: 6.1-magnitude earthquake hits West Papua province December 28

Event

As of Friday, December 28, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit areas near Manokwari, the capital of the West Papua province. According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the tremblor occurred at a depth of 26 km (16 mi) for five minutes. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damages. According to the authorities, this quake did not have the potential to trigger a tsunami. Aftershocks are however possible in the coming hours.

Context

A 1 m (3 ft) surge of water hit the Sunda Strait on Saturday, December 22. The wave was caused by an undersea landslide following an eruption at the Anak Krakatau volcano. Authorities did not issue a tsunami warning because no earthquake was recorded prior to the wave hitting the coast. 430 people were killed, 160 remain missing, and 1,500 were injured after an eruption at the volcano triggered killer waves which slammed into coastal areas in western Java and south Sumatra.

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and anticipate infrastructure damage and disruptions, including for transportation and telecommunication.