Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesia was shaken by a strong earthquake on Wednesday, an earthquake that struck the eastern part of southeast Asia nation, according to the US Geological Survey. According to the Associated Press , there were no immediate reports about the amount of damage caused by the earthquake. The magnitude-5.5 quake was centered 56 kilometers (35 miles) under the sea, the US Geological Survey also reported.
The Indonesia earthquake occurred at approximately 4:00 pm local time, which translate to 1:00 am Pacific Time. Jakarta is 15 hours ahead of Pacific Time.
Indonesian seismologist Fauzi, who uses one name, said there was no risk of a tsunami. Amelia Tagor, a resident of Tual, the town closest to the epicenter, said a brief tremor was felt, but no one panicked.
“We felt it for a few seconds … but it did not disturb our activities,” she said.
The shaking of the Earth’s tectonic plate affected people as far from Indonesia as California. Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. When one side of the plate hits it tends to bounce back, affecting people living on other side. The American occupants of Soledad, California felt a 3.1 magnitude earthquake in response to the Indonesian earthquake.
In other Indonesian news, according to CBS, the government certified a Russian-made passenger jetliner as safe to fly six months after the Sukhoi Superjet-100 crashed into a jagged Indonesian volcano during a demonstration flight to impress potential buyers, killing all 45 people aboard. They have also been considering whether to extend a divestment deadline for foreign mining companies beyond 10 years, but no decision has been made.
