6.6-magnitude quake jolts off Indonesia’s Banten, strong tremors felt in Jakarta

Jakarta, Jan 15 (IANS) A 6.6-magnitude earthquake jolted off the Banten province of Indonesia with strong tremors felt in the capital Jakarta, the country’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said.

The Agency earlier released a report on the quake with a magnitude of 6.7 and then revised it to 6.6 which was reported on Friday.

It did not issue any tsunami warning as the tremors did not potentially trigger giant waves, Xinhua news agency reported.

The quake took place at 4:05 p.m. Jakarta time (0905 GMT), with the epicentre at 52-km southwest of Sumur sub-district of Pandeglang district in Banten province and a depth of 10 km under the seabed, the Agency added.

In Pandeglang district, Banten province, at least 13 buildings and houses were destroyed, but there was no report of casualty, Girgi Jantoro, Head of the Operational Unit of the Provincial Disaster Management Agency, said.

“So far, 10 houses and three school buildings were damaged, but no report of those injured or killed was issued,” the disaster agency official told Xinhua through phone, adding the tremors triggered panic among residents, making them rush outside.

The tremors were strongly felt in the capital of Jakarta and triggered panic among residents as well, who rushed outside from high buildings and houses, Acting Spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency, Abdul Muhari said in a text message.

Muhari added that so far, no one was reported to be wounded or killed after the powerful quake.

The tremors were also felt in nearby Lampung province, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.

Several aftershocks with the strongest magnitude of 5.7 followed the main shock, according to the Agency.

–IANS

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