Aceh Rocked by 14 Earthquakes

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Aceh Rocked by 14 Earthquakes|Aceh Rocked by 14 Earthquakes Aceh has again been rocked by a major earthquake with a magnitude of 8,5 on the Richter scale on Wednesday (11/4), at 15:38 PM.

The first quake that was centered about 364 km southwest of Simeulue District was subsequently followed by aftershocks. One of them was recorded at magnitude 6,5 SR.

The people of Aceh who were left traumatized by the 2004 earthquake accompanied by tsunami immediately panicked. They ran and jumped. The same was observed in almost every community throughout provinces on Sumatera island that had experienced the quake.

In the city of Padang, West Sumatera, people ran out of homes and offices. The shocks seemed to last a long time. Traffic flows immediately became congested along Jalan Kampung Nias, Padang.

The Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) at Pekanbaru Station recorded that the shocks were not only felt in Aceh, but also at Bengkulu, Lampung, West Sumatera and North Sumatera. "The tectonic quake occured at a depth of 10 kilometers", explained a BMKG Pekanbaru analyst, Slamet Riyadi.

In West Pasaman, West Sumatra, residents also panicked. They evacuated to higher areas for fear of tsunami. This was the case with the residents of three districts; Kinali, Sungai Beremas and Sasak Ranah Pasisie. Moreover, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) issued an early tsunami warning. "We are coordinating with the military and have formed a rapid reaction force with a strenght of 500 personnel at Halim Perdanakusuma airport," explained BNPB's Head of Data and Information, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

Sutopo added that 14 earthquake had struck Aceh. Two of the earthquake can potentially be followed by tsunami, and the shocks range from magnitude 6,1 - 8,8, striking Sabang, Meulaboh, Simeuleu and Teluk Dalam. Nine earthquakes occured at Simeuleu, which was said to have experienced the hardest shocks.

In Jakarta, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is directly monitoring developments in the midst of a state visit by British Prime Minister David Cameron to Indonesia. "BNPB has been instructed to immediately take emergency measures, "said Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Agung Laksono at the Presidential Palace, while mentioning that PNPB Chief Syamsul Maarif has given a progress report to the Prsident.

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