Strong and shallow M6.1 earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia
Image credit: USGS, EMSC
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.1 hit Sulawesi, Indonesia at 07:00 UTC on September 28, 2018. The agency is reporting a depth of 18.1 km (11.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.1 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), BMKG M6.0 at the same depth.
According to the USGS, the epicenter was located 30 km (18 miles) N of Donggala, 57 km (35 miles) NNW of Palu (population 282 431), and 155 km (96 miles) NW of Poso (population 47 110 miles).
There are 1 110 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles) and about 4 000 within 10 km (6.2 miles).
The USGS registered M5.4 and 4.9 aftershocks at 07:00 and 07:28 UTC, respectively. Both at a depth of 10 km.
The USGS issued a green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are informal (metal, timber, GI etc.) and heavy wood frame construction.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
Updates:
One person has been killed and 10 others were injured, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesperson of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
Dozens of homes were damaged.
1 orang meninggal dunia, 10 orang luka-luka dan puluhan rumah rusak akibat gempa dengan kekuatan magnitudo 6 mengguncang Donggala Sulawesi Tengah. Daerah yang mengalami kerusakan ada di Kec Sinreja Kab Donggala yang dekat pusat gempa. Gempa susulan masih terus terjadi. pic.twitter.com/u7d27niBYx
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) September 28, 2018
Rumah roboh dekat pusat gempa M 5.9 yang mengguncang Donggala. Beberapa rumah dilaporkan rusak. Pusat gempa di darat berasal dari sesar Palu sehingga dirasakan guncangan keras. Pendataan masih dilakukan. pic.twitter.com/p6DlnVBTWo
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_PN) September 28, 2018
This quake was followed by a very strong and shallow earthquake registered by the BMKG as M7.7 10:02 UTC (17:02 local time). Powerful aftershocks are shaking the region.
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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