5.1 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Eastern Indonesia

A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck the province of Java, eastern Indonesia on Sunday. A statement by the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that the epicenter of the quake occurred 94 km south-west of Sukabume, West Java, 65 kilometers below the Indian Ocean. So far, there have been no reports of causalities or material damage. BMKG stated that it had not observed any aftershocks but advised residents to stay away from damaged or fractured buildings and inspect homes before re-entering them to ensure the safety of the buildings. Indonesia is regularly exposed to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where many tectonic plates meet and cause frequent volcanic and seismic activity. Source: Qatar News Agency