Related News
Palu, Central Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of Palu, Central Sulawesi, said the Palu region was jolted by tectonic temblors at least 600 times in a month.

"The earthquakes measured between 3.0 and 6.0 on the Richter scale," Mudjianto, head of Palu`s BMKG, said here Wednesday.

Earthquakes measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale could be felt but those under 4.0 on the Richter scale could not, he said.

Palu lay on the Palu Koro tectonic plate or fault, one of the most active faults in the world, and this was why the region was frequently shaken by earthquakes , he said.

The Palu Koro fault lay below the sea in the Makassar Strait and was attached to Sulawesi over a distance of 1,000 Km.

The time and epicenter of an earthquakes could not be predicted despite the fact that an active fault stretched across Palu, he said.

However, the earth crust movement could trigger other movements as they were correlated, he said.

"Therefore, the public should remain alert if an earthquake occurs because it could trigger other temblors in other parts of the Palu region," Mudjianto said.

A geophysics observer at Palu-based Tadulako University, Abdulah MT, said the earth was now 4.5 billion years old and getting more vulnerable to earthquakes and other calamities.

"If an earthquake happens, don`t panic. Find a safe and open place to avoid falling debris," he said.

The Palu region was last hit by a temblor on Wednesday morning (Sept 8) at 01.22 pm local time. It measured 4.7 on the Richter scale.

(KR-AES/F001/S026)

Editor: Suryanto
COPYRIGHT © 2012

Comment
Send Comment