Jakarta (VNA) - A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia’s eastern province of Aceh on the evening of January 31, according to the country’s Agency for Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics (BMKG), but no tsunami warning was issued.
BMKG initially reported the earthquake at a magnitude of 6.2 but later revised it down to 5.9. The quake’s epicentre was located about 28km southwest of Tapak Tuan, the capital of South Aceh, at a depth of 59km. Authorities confirmed that the tremor was not strong enough to trigger a tsunami.
A local disaster mitigation official in Aceh said residents in the affected area felt the shaking, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or property damage.
Indonesia, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent seismic activity. On December 26, 2004, a devastating 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, triggering a massive tsunami. Within hours, waves over 30m high hit shorelines across the Indian Ocean, affecting Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and the Maldives. The disaster claimed over 230,000 lives across 17 countries, making it one of the deadliest natural catastrophes of the 21st century.
Meanwhile, the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has reported widespread flooding in Jakarta due to prolonged heavy rain spanning three days.
Floodwaters have inundated 54 residential areas and 23 roads, forcing nearly 1,200 residents in West Jakarta and East Jakarta to evacuate to six emergency shelters. Additionally, more than 570 people in North Jakarta have also been displaced.
The BPBD has deployed teams to closely monitor affected areas and is working with relevant authorities to accelerate drainage efforts and ensure the city’s flood management systems operate effectively.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Affairs has delivered logistics, deployed disaster preparedness cadets (Tagana), and set up public kitchens in response to the floods witnessed across Jakarta this week.
The public kitchens have been tasked with preparing 12,360 meal boxes daily.
The BPBD has urged residents to stay informed about weather conditions and remain vigilant against potential further flooding. A hotline has also been established to provide emergency assistance and support to the public.
At the same time, Malaysia is also experiencing severe flooding. As of the evening of January 29, the number of people forced to evacuate due to flooding and landslides in Malaysia’s Borneo states of Sarawak and Sabah has risen to 4,000, according to local authorities. Evacuees have been relocated to temporary relief centres (PPS) as heavy rainfall continues to batter the region. Several landslides have occurred.
Meanwhile, in neighbouring Brunei, continuous heavy rain has caused severe flooding in low-lying areas, particularly in Tutong district. Several residential areas have been cut off due to damaged main roads, prompting emergency response teams to evacuate affected residents to safe shelters./.
