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Ungaran earthquake not a result of Mt. Merbabu volcanic activity
Newly appointed head of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministryâs geology agency, Surono, said Mondayâs earthquake felt in Sumogawe village in Getasan district, Semarang regency, did not indicate that there was an increase in Mount Merbabu's volcanic activity
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ewly appointed head of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's geology agency, Surono, said Monday's earthquake felt in Sumogawe village in Getasan district, Semarang regency, did not indicate that there was an increase in Mount Merbabu's volcanic activity.
Although the quake's epicenter was less than 10 kilometers away from Mt. Merbabu, it was not related to volcanic activity, he added.
'There is no relation between tectonic movements and magma activity,' said Surono on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com.
On why the earthquake was not announced by the Sumogawe-branch Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Surono said this was because the magnitude of quake was relatively small.
'The BMKG usually does not release information on earthquakes below magnitude 5,' he added.
The Semarang Disaster Mitigation Agency's (BPBD) rehabilitation and reconstruction head, Yudinita Artsiani, said the Monday's quake was considered as a shallow-focus earthquake.
'We informed both the BMKG Semarang and the agency's central branch that there was a 2.5 magnitude earthquake in Sumowono with the epicenter of the earthquake was 17 kilometers deep. Although it was weak, it's strong enough to be felt,' said Nita.
No casualties were reported in the earthquake, which occurred on Monday morning.However, at least 46 homes in five hamlets suffered damage.
Sumogawe village is located around 10 kilometers from Mt. Merbabu. A series of volcanic eruptions during the past year, which was preceded with the eruption of Mt.Sinabung in Karo, North Sumatra, have led to residents' worries that Mt.Merbabu might be active again. (tjs/ebf)
