Indonesia: Casualties and damage reported following earlier magnitude-5.9 earthquake in North Sumatra Province Oct. 1 /update 1

Event

Casualties and damage have been reported following an earlier magnitude-5.9 earthquake that occurred in North Sumatra Province around 02:28 Oct. 1. The tremor, which struck about 40 km (25 miles) north-northeast of Sibolga, has left at least one person dead, and 11 more injured in the village of Tarutung, close to the epicenter, while around 15 buildings were damaged or destroyed. The earthquake also damaged communications towers and resulted in power outages in areas near the epicenter. The extent of damage to road infrastructure, if any, is unclear. Authorities continue to conduct damage assessments, and the casualty toll could rise further in the coming days.

The tremor occurred at a depth of about 13 km (9 miles), and moderate-to-very-strong shaking was probably felt throughout North Sumatra, as well as northern West Sumatra and Riau Islands provinces. Light-to-strong aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides. Cellular networks may be overwhelmed; use text messaging if services are available.