A strong earthquake struck waters near Southwest Sumba Regency in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara Province on October 4.
Because the initially announced magnitude differed from the revised magnitude, it became a case in which it was difficult to assess the damage situation based on a single number.
Reports of housing damage and minor injuries have emerged, while on-site damage assessments continue.
3-Line Summary
1. An earthquake occurred near Southwest Sumba
2. The magnitude was revised from M6.1 to M5.9
3. Damage figures should be considered alongside on-site assessments
Occurring in Waters Near Kodi on the Morning of October 4
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) announced that an earthquake occurred on the morning of October 4 approximately 14 kilometers southwest of Kodi in Southwest Sumba Regency. According to detikNews, it occurred at 5:55 a.m. Western Indonesia Time, or 6:55 a.m. local Central Indonesia Time.
BMKG initially reported a magnitude of 6.1 but later revised the analytical value to magnitude 5.9. The reported epicenter coordinates were 9.70 degrees south latitude and 118.92 degrees east longitude, and detikNews reported a depth of 30 kilometers. However, Kompas.id reported the depth as 10 kilometers, so this article does not treat either figure as a definitive value for subsequent damage assessments.
Based on a tsunami simulation analysis, BMKG said that this earthquake was unlikely to cause a tsunami. The shaking was reportedly felt not only in several areas of Sumba Island but also in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency.
Damage to 20 Houses and 1 Minor Injury Reported
According to a preliminary assessment by Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), 20 residents’ houses in Southwest Sumba Regency were damaged. Of these, 19 were classified as sustaining minor damage and 1 as sustaining moderate damage. Damage was reported across the villages of Waikadada, Weerena, Bondokodi, and Hombakaripit.
Three churches, the Manutogih Elementary School building, and the Walandimu village hall also sustained minor damage. In West Sumba Regency, three army barracks were slightly damaged, while damage to ceilings and walls was reported at two Red-and-White Village Cooperative buildings in Merah Putih Village.
One person was reportedly slightly injured, and no deaths were reported. However, these figures are preliminary data that BNPB is updating based on on-site investigations. There were also reports from residents that some houses had partially collapsed or developed cracks, but it is safer to use updates to official assessments as the basis for judging the extent of the damage rather than individual eyewitness accounts.
Safety Checks on Damaged Buildings Matter More Than Magnitude
It is difficult to gauge the felt intensity or building damage based on the revised magnitude alone. BMKG recorded the intensity as IV–VI on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale and explained that at VI, most people feel the shaking and may be startled enough to go outside.
BNPB advised people not to enter damaged buildings and to avoid buildings that have not been declared safe. In this case, the point readers should watch closely is that, more than the earthquake’s initially announced magnitude, investigations of damaged buildings and residents’ needs continue to be updated as on-site information is confirmed.
References
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