Quake-triggered tsunami rumors create panic in Lampung

Hundreds of people ran for safety as rumors of an impending tsunami spread across Bandarlampung, immediately after a magnitude-6.4 quake jolted the Lampung capital on Friday.

Loud tsunami warnings were heard often among the crowd as people descended from high-rise buildings and shopping centers on the Jl. Radin Intan thoroughfare.

“I took my child and ran out of the supermarket for safety. Outside the supermarket many people were pulling together, some of them screaming ‘tsunami’ and ‘earthquake’,” Farida, a resident of Kedaton, said outside Plaza Tanjungkarang mall.

Farida said she had felt the tremor for about one minute while shopping on the second floor of the mall.

Bandarlampung Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency chief Chrismanto said the quake could not have triggered a tsunami.

“We ask the public to remain calm and have requested the provincial government instruct people living near the Sunda Strait not to seek refuge in Bandarlampung,” he said.

Rumors of a major earthquake had circulated since Wednesday last week, causing Bandarlampung residents to stay outside their homes for fear that a powerful quake could cause buildings to collapse.