A powerful tectonic earthquake with a Magnitude 6.3 struck the Simeulue region of Aceh Province on Thursday at 11:56:24 AM Western Indonesian Time (WIB). This seismic event was identified as a shallow earthquake, resulting from the subduction activity where the Indo-Australian Plate thrusts beneath the Eurasia Plate.
Daryono, Director of Earthquakes and Tsunamis at the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), further elaborated that a source mechanism analysis revealed the Aceh earthquake exhibited an upward fault movement. BMKG’s updated parameters confirmed the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.3.
The epicenter of the earthquake was precisely located at coordinates 2.61 degrees North Latitude (LU) and 95.83 degrees East Longitude (BT), situated offshore approximately one kilometer south of Simeulue, Aceh, at a depth of 14 kilometers. Based on modeling results, this seismic event was declared to have no tsunami potential.
The intensity of the earthquake’s tremors varied across different regions as follows, measured using the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale:
- Simeulue: IV MMI
- South Aceh: III-IV MMI
- Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar, Southeast Aceh, Abdya, and Singkil: III MMI
- Kabanjahe, Berastagi, Tiganderket, Pidie, and Lhokseumawe: II-III MMI
- Medan, Silangit: II MMI
12 Residents Injured Following Aceh Earthquake
Meanwhile, the widespread impact of the earthquake was significant. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported on Thursday evening (27/11) that the Magnitude 6.5 quake, which shook Simeulue Regency, Aceh, resulted in damage to public facilities and left at least 12 residents injured.
Abdul Muhari, Head of BNPB’s Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center, confirmed that the 12 injured victims were spread across various districts, including East Aceh, West Aceh, Aceh Besar, Banda Aceh, South Aceh, Nagan Raya, Southeast Aceh, and Simeulue. He added in a press statement that the majority of these injuries were sustained from falling building debris, highlighting the immediate dangers posed by the seismic event.
The earthquake struck at 12:10 PM WIB. Following the main shock, BMKG’s monitoring, up until 1:00 PM WIB, recorded six aftershocks, with the strongest reaching a Magnitude 4.8, indicating ongoing seismic activity in the affected region.
Summary
A Magnitude 6.3 tectonic earthquake struck Simeulue, Aceh Province, on Thursday at 11:56:24 AM WIB. This shallow seismic event resulted from the subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate beneath the Eurasia Plate, with its epicenter located offshore approximately one kilometer south of Simeulue at a depth of 14 kilometers. BMKG confirmed the upward fault movement and declared that the earthquake had no tsunami potential.
The earthquake’s tremors varied in intensity, reaching IV MMI in Simeulue and III-IV MMI in South Aceh, with lighter shaking felt across other regions. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that at least 12 residents sustained injuries in various districts, primarily due to falling building debris. Following the main shock, BMKG also recorded six aftershocks, with the strongest reaching Magnitude 4.8.
