M5.2 Earthquake Offshore West Java, Tremors Felt in Bandung and Other Areas

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the sea off Pangandaran, West Java, on Wednesday (5/8) night. According to a press release from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquake, which happened at 9:55 PM Western Indonesian Time (WIB), does not have the potential to cause a tsunami. BMKG stated that the tectonic earthquake's tremors were reported to be felt as far as Bandung Regency and Sukabumi Regency. "The results of BMKG's analysis show that this earthquake has updated parameters with a magnitude of M5.2 at a depth of 14 km. The epicenter of the earthquake is located at coordinates 8.17° LS; 107.86° BT, or precisely located in the sea at a distance of 87 Km southwest of Pangandaran, West Java," the BMKG press release received on Wednesday night stated. "By paying attention to the location of the epicenter and the depth of the hypocenter, the earthquake that occurred is a shallow earthquake type due to activity in an active fault," it continued. BMKG stated that based on reports from the community, this earthquake was felt with an intensity scale of III MMI in Bandung Regency, specifically in the districts of Arjasari, Kertasari, Baleendah, Dayeuhkolot, Majalaya, Nagrak, and Solokanjeruk. This scale means that the vibrations are felt clearly within houses, as if a truck is passing by. Then, an intensity scale of II-III MMI (Vibrations felt clearly within houses. Vibrations felt as if a truck is passing by) was felt in Soreang, Pangalengan, and Ciwidey, which are also still in Bandung Regency. It was also felt in Sukabumi Regency and City. "II MMI (Vibrations felt by several people, light objects hung sway) in Sumedang, Parongpong, Cihanjuang, Ngamprah, Lembang, and Pelabuhan Ratu," he added. BMKG Director of Earthquakes and Tsunamis, Wijayanto, stated in the press release that as of 10:30 PM WIB, BMKG monitoring showed one aftershock activity with a magnitude of M2.2. Source: CNN Indonesia