Indonesia earthquake: East Timor is hit by 6.4 magnitude quake

6.4 magnitude earthquake strikes off of Indonesia’s West Timor

An earthquake of 6.4 magnitude struck Indonesia today.

The quake, which registered 6.4 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Indonesia’s West Timor island at around 8.15am, the US Geological Survey confirmed.

The huge tremor struck at a depth of 5.3 miles in the sea but no tsunami warning has been issued for the area.

The Holiday Resort Lombok at Senggigi in West Nusa Tenggara province in August 10 this year was left deserted after the powerful earthquakes that struck the Indonesian island killing some 400 people and sent holidaymakers fleeing the area.

Just hours before earthquake a smaller 4.7 magnitude tremor hit the northside of the island.

Earlier this month at 436 people were confirmed dead and more than 236 severely injured in a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked the neighbouring Indonesian tourist island of Lombok.

The earthquake was around 60 miles southeast of Kupang – capital of the province of East Nusa Tenggara.

Indonesia is a highly seismically active region, and is part of the volatile region on the edge of the pacific known as the Ring of Fire. 

The USGS assessment of Indonesia’s earthquake risk reads: “The population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist.

Muslim men perform Friday prayers around the damaged mosque in Kokok Putik Village on August 24 this year after the devastating earthquake in East Lombok.

Muslim men perform Friday prayers around the damaged mosque in Kokok Putik Village on August 24 this year after the devastating earthquake in East Lombok.

“The predominant vulnerable building types are unreinforced brick with concrete floor and precast concrete frame with wall construction.

“Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.”

 More to follow. 

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