4.6 Earthquake Strikes Indonesian Island, Java
An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale struck today, Tuesday near the coast of the Indonesian island of Java. The US Geological Survey reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was 71 kilometers from the region, at a depth of 89 kilometers. Untill now, there are no reports of material or human losses resulting from the earthquake.
Three weeks ago, the Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami warning after Mount Ruang erupted in Ruang Island to its highest level. The eruption sparked fears as a part of the mountain could collapse into the sea, resulting in a tsunami.
The warning was issued Wednesday evening, following the eruption of the 725-metre volcano, spewing ash and lava over a distance of 3,000 metres. It erupted at least 5 times since Tuesday night. Authorities urged people living in the coastal Tagulandang area to be careful of high tides and a possible tsunami. These could result from rocks falling from the volcano.
More than 800 people were evacuated from two villages on Ruang Island. The authorities imposed a buffer zone within 6 kilometers of the volcano crater, which extends to the southwestern part of Tagulundang Island.
“The force of Mount Ruang’s eruption is getting bigger and has emitted hot clouds of approximately 1.7 kilometers,” Agency chief Hendra Gunawan told national news agency Antara.
The last time Mount Ruang erupted was in 2002, spewing volcanic lava that damaged local lands. A similar scenario happened in Indonesia in 2018. Anak Krakatau erupted and parts of it fell into the ocean, causing a tusunami along coasts of Sumatra and Java. This tsunami killed 430 people.
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