JAKARTA — A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s western Aceh province today according to the country’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.
The agency had released the quake’s magnitude at 5.4 before downgrading it, Bernama-Xinhua reports.
Tremors occurred at 09.58 am Jakarta time (0258 GMT) with the epicentre located 16 kilometres (km) northeast of the provincial capital of Banda Aceh and at a depth of 12 km below earth.
Banda Aceh city and the Aceh Besar Regency felt the strongest tremors, measured at IV MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity).
Tremors measuring III MMI were felt in in Takengon town, and II to III MMI in Pidie Regency, Pidie Jaya Regency and Sabang town, said Daryono, head of the agency’s quake and tsunami mitigation division.
He said no tsunami alert had been issued as the tremors would not potentially trigger giant waves.
Indonesia is prone to earthquakes as the archipelagic nation lies within a vulnerable quake-hit zone, called the “Pacific Ring of Fire”.
Today’s earthquake in Aceh comes two days after a devastating 7.7-magnitude quake in central Myanmar on Friday, which was felt in southern China and Bangkok, Thailand, and has claimed over 1,600 lives in the country wracked by civil war. – March 30, 2025