Earthquake with Magnitude 4.6 Strikes Batang Regency, Damages Public Infrastructure
GalaPos ID, Batang-Cemtral Java
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.6 suddenly struck Batang Regency at 14:35 WIB, damaging several public infrastructures and office buildings. The local Regional Disaster Management Agency or in Indonesia known as Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah (BPBD) immediately deployed teams to several affected points.
The Head of Logistics Emergency Affairs of BPBD Batang, Muhammad Fajri, stated that the earthquake's epicenter was detected in Batursari, on the border between Batang Regency and Pekalongan. "The areas that experienced damage include Lebo Village, Karangasem, Batang Grand Mosque, the regency hall, and Batang Market," he explained when met at the BPBD office on Sunday July 7 2024.
The exact cause of the earthquake is still unknown, but intensive communication is ongoing with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency or in Indonesia known as Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika (BMKG). "The epicenter is to the southwest, and it is unlikely to trigger a tsunami," Fajri emphasized.
Separately, Rohmani, a security officer at the Batang Grand Mosque, described the situation during the earthquake. According to him, a loud rumble caused all the mosque's congregation to rush outside to avoid any potential dangers. "The sound was a rumble, and everyone in the mosque's porch and interior rooms ran out in fear," he recounted.
BPBD Batang is currently monitoring and handling the affected locations. Efforts are underway to evacuate and assess the damage to ensure the safety of residents and minimize further impact from the earthquake.
