Series of Earthquakes Occur in Four Regions in Central Java

Saturday, 23 October 2021 – 21:32 GMT+7
Illustration of an earthquake / Credit: Sultan Amanda Syahidatullah, JPNN

jpnn.com, JAWA TENGAH - A series of earthquakes occurred in Salatiga, Banyubiru, Bawen, and Ambarawa in Central Java on Saturday (23/10) morning.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquakes was triggered by an active fault.

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"It is strongly suspected that the source of the active fault that triggered the earthquakes was the Merbabu Merapi Telomoyo Fault," said BMKG earthquake and tsunami mitigation coordinator Daryono in Jakarta.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located at coordinates 7.296 South Latitude and 110.38568 East Longitude, precisely on land at a distance of 13 kilometers northwest of Salatiga with a hypocenter depth of 6 kilometers.

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BMKG analysis shows that the earthquake had a magnitude of 3.0 followed by seven series of aftershocks with a magnitude of 2.1 to 3.

As of Saturday morning, there have been no reports of damage to buildings as a result of the earthquakes.

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The BMKG map shows the earthquake shocks reached the four areas. 

Daryono said the entire series of earthquakes, both the main earthquake and the seven aftershocks, was centered in the Mount Telomoyo complex.

Mount Telomoyo is in Semarang and Magelang regencies.

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The mountain, with an altitude of 1,894 meters above sea level, is a strato-shaped volcano but has never been recorded to erupt.

In the historical record of strong and destructive earthquakes, the Salatiga, Banyubiru and Ambarawa regions have experienced several significant earthquakes such as the ones in September 1849.

There were also major earthquakes in some of those areas in July 1865, October 1865, April 1866, October 1872, and February 2014.

The Salatiga, Banyubiru, Bawen, and Ambarwa areas are close to the active faults, namely the Merapi Merbabu Fault and the Rawa Pening Fault.

For this reason, strong earthquakes can occur at any time. (mcr20/antara/jpnn)

This news has been broadcast on JPNN.com with the title: Terjadi Rentetan Gempa 4 Daerah di Jateng, BMKG Menduga ini Penyebabnya

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