Moderate Earthquakes Shake Aceh Tamiang and Jember, Indonesia

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.4 struck Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia, early Wednesday morning, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The tremor occurred at 02:49 WIB at a shallow depth of only 4 kilometers. The epicenter was located inland, approximately 20 kilometers northeast of the Gayo Lues Regency.

The strongest shaking was felt in Aceh Tamiang, registering at an intensity of III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale. This intensity level typically means the shaking is felt noticeably indoors, similar to a truck passing by. Other areas, including Aceh Tengah and Langsa, experienced tremors at an intensity of II MMI, where light objects hanging might sway.

Separately, a more significant earthquake with a magnitude of 4.8 (initially reported as 5.1) hit Jember, East Java, on Tuesday afternoon at 15:39 WIB. This quake originated at a depth of 14 kilometers in the sea, 99 kilometers southeast of Jember. BMKG described this as a shallow earthquake due to rock deformation within a plate, and it did not pose a tsunami risk.

The Jember earthquake registered an intensity of IV MMI in Jember itself, meaning it was felt by many people indoors and caused some to flee their homes. Areas like Banyuwangi felt it at III-IV MMI, while Bondowoso, Malang, and even Kuta in Bali experienced intensity III. The Indonesian railway company PT KAI Daop 9 Jember temporarily halted train services for safety checks. Local disaster management officials reported no building damage from the Jember quake, though the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported a different depth for the Jember event, placing it at 35 kilometers.

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This type of earthquake is shallow due to rock deformation within the plate. It does not have the potential to cause a tsunami.