Earthquakes in Sumatra and Tremors felt in West Malaysia

Did you feel the tremors this morning?

Two earthquakes hit northern Sumatra this morning sending tremors that were felt in Selangor, Malacca, Negri Sembilan, Perak, Putrajaya and here.

According to Jakarta Post, a magnitude-5.5 earthquake rattled Tarutung in the North Sumatra regency of North Tapanuli on Tuesday morning, with no casualties reported so far. The epicenter of the quake was 30 kilometers southeast of Tarutung, at the depth of 10 kilometers below sea level.

The Google Map below will give you an idea of the location of Tarutung which explains why we felt the tremors this morning.

View Larger Map

The epicenter of the earthquake was also 39 kilometers from Sibolga and 49 kilometers from Padangsidempuan, two North Sumatran cities.

The agency reported that the quake had not triggered a tsunami.

The first 5.5-magnitude earthquake hit Sumatra at 8.08am and the second 5.6-magnitude quake hit the same place at 11.01am Tuesday.

Firemen carrying out checks at several government buildings in Putrajaya after the tremors

However, there was no tsunami threat, said the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

In other parts of Indonesia, The Jakarta Globe reported that a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Monday, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics (BMKG).

The moderate quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers at 15.40 p.m. 120 kilometers off Palu.

It was the second quake in Indonesia today after a 4.7-magnitude quake hit Blitar, East Java at 10.17 a.m.

A third earthquake, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake, hit off Tahuna, North Sulawesi, at 9:31 p.m.

It was Indonesia's third earthquake on Monday — the first was in Blitar, East Java, and the second in Palu, Central Sulawesi.

There were no reports of injuries or damages. No tsunami warning had been issued.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where the meeting of continental plates causes high seismic activity, and Sumatra is particularly prone to earthquakes.

Sources:
The Star
5.1-Magnitude Quake Hits Central Sulawesi
6.9-Magnitude Quake Hits North Sulawesi
Images from The Star