State-owned electricity provider PT PLN (Persero) has ensured that the electricity grid in Java, Madura, and Bali Islands is secure after a 6.6 magnitude (M) earthquake hit Sumur Sub-district, Banten Province, on Friday afternoon.
Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications and Social Corporate Responsibility of the enterprise Agung Murdifi stated that the company had immediately dispatched teams to ensure that all electricity infrastructure, especially in Banten Province, can continue to operate.
“According to reports from our teams, electricity supply in Java, Madura, Bali Islands, is unaffected,” he remarked in a statement on Friday.
Furthermore, he appealed to the public to remain calm.
“All customers can report through the PLN Mobile app or contact the PLN Contact Center on 123 if they experience any electrical disturbances,” the executive vice president added.
Currently, the Java-Madura-Bali network is able to supply 24.5 Gigawatts (GW) of electricity, he noted.
Meanwhile, Head of Bayah Timur Village, Bayah Sub-district, Lebak District, Banten Province, Rafik Rahmatv Taufik spoke of his side not having received any reports of damage caused by the disaster in the coastal village.
“We sensed a strong tremor for about 30 seconds when the first earthquake struck. Several aftershocks occurred during the next hour, though the tremors were relatively weak,” he stated.
The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) informed that the epicenter of the earthquake was located about 52 kilometers (km) away from southwest of Sumur Sub-district, Pandeglang District, Banten Province, at a depth of 10 km.
The quake, which occurred at 4:05 p.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB), had no potential to trigger a tsunami.
According to the agency, the disaster was caused by subduction activity due to a thrust fault.
The tremors were also felt by Jakarta’s residents at Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) III-IV.
The MMI III tremors are usually felt by people indoors quite akin to that of a passing truck. Meanwhile, MMI IV tremors can cause produce cracking sounds in windows, doors, and walls.
Source: Antara News