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Island focus: Tsunami fears keep residents in hills

A string of strong earthquakes that hit Mentawai Islands regency, West Sumatra, on Saturday evening, triggered panic among residents who rushed to higher ground to avoid a potential tsunami

The Jakarta Post
Padang
Mon, February 4, 2019

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Island focus: Tsunami fears keep residents in hills

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string of strong earthquakes that hit Mentawai Islands regency, West Sumatra, on Saturday evening, triggered panic among residents who rushed to higher ground to avoid a potential tsunami.

Haunted by a tsunami that devastated the regency nine years ago, Supri Lindra, a resident of Sikakap city, North Pagai Island, said he and his family fled from their home near the beach to stay with relatives living in the hilly part of the island.

He said many Sikakap residents had moved to higher ground because of a 5.3- and 6.1-magnitude earthquake that jolted the island on Saturday at 4:03 p.m. and 4:27 p.m., respectively.

Some chose to stay near their homes, rolling out mats outside as they were reluctant to sleep indoors.

“All of us are still traumatized,” Supri said, remembering the tsunami that hit North Pagai and South Pagai islands on Oct. 25, 2010, following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake at around 9 p.m.

At least 400 people died in the disaster, while 15,000 others were forced to stay in emergency shelters.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency recorded at least 27 earthquakes in Mentawai starting from 4 p.m. on Saturday, with the strongest one measuring at a magnitude of 6.1 and the weakest at 2.8.

The epicenter of both earthquakes was located in the western part of the Sikakap Strait at a depth of 10 kilometers and near the epicenter of the quake that triggered a tsunami in 2010.

Saturday’s tremors were also felt on mainland Sumatra, particularly in cities close to Mentawai Islands, namely Bukittinggi and Padang in West Sumatra and Sungai Penuh and Kerinci in Jambi.

The West Sumatra coordinator of the Indonesian Geologists Association, Ade Edwar, said there was potential for a bigger quake.

“We’re not sure whether the main earthquake has occurred or not,” Ade said, adding that according to history, an earthquake of over 8.0-magnitude was possible in the area.

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