A strong earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck the waters near Nias Island in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province on Tuesday.
The earthquake happened at 1:02 p.m. local time, according to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency. The epicenter was located about 147 kilometers southeast of South Nias Regency. The earthquake occurred at a depth of around 29 kilometers below the Earth’s surface.
So far, there have been no reports of deaths, injuries, or major damage to buildings and other property. Officials are continuing to monitor the situation and check for possible damage in nearby areas.
The earthquake has caused concern among local residents because Indonesia is located in an area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. This region has frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity because several major tectonic plates meet there.
The latest earthquake comes after another powerful earthquake hit Indonesia earlier this month. A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara province and caused serious damage in several areas.
That earlier earthquake killed 68 people and was followed by at least 1,576 aftershocks. The large number of aftershocks made rescue and recovery efforts more difficult.
Indonesia regularly experiences earthquakes because of its location along several active tectonic plate boundaries. While the latest earthquake near Nias Island has not caused reported damage so far, authorities are keeping a close watch on the region in case further tremors occur.
Residents in affected areas have been advised to remain alert and follow instructions from local authorities if more strong earthquakes are reported.