JAKARTA, Indonesia: A magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck near Indonesia’s Java island on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), with tremors felt in the capital city of Jakarta.
The earthquake, which occurred offshore, had a depth of approximately eight kilometers (five miles). It originated off the northern coast of Java island, near Bawean island, at around 3:52 pm local time (0852 GMT), as reported by the USGS.
Despite the significant magnitude of the quake, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Local authorities did not issue a tsunami warning in response to the seismic activity.
Indonesia, situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes due to its location where tectonic plates converge. This geological phenomenon spans from Japan, through Southeast Asia, and across the Pacific basin, marking an area of intense seismic activity.
The region has a history of devastating earthquakes, including a magnitude-6.2 quake that struck Sulawesi island in January 2021, resulting in over 100 fatalities and displacing thousands. In 2018, a magnitude-7.5 earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Palu, Sulawesi, claimed the lives of more than 2,200 individuals. Additionally, the catastrophic magnitude-9.1 earthquake that hit Aceh province in 2004 triggered a tsunami, leading to the loss of over 170,000 lives in Indonesia.
