Stay away from the coast, BMKG warns after Kamchatka earthquake

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has urged residents in coastal areas under tsunami advisory status to stay away from the shoreline ahead of the anticipated arrival of tsunami waves.

The warning was issued following a powerful 8.7-magnitude earthquake that struck off the eastern coast of Kamchatka, Russia, on Wednesday morning.

BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday that the agency had delivered specific instructions through local disaster management agencies (BPBD) as part of its early warning measures.

She emphasized that people should avoid coastal zones as the expected arrival time of potential tsunami waves approaches.

BMKG has also coordinated with local search and rescue (SAR) teams to enhance field preparedness. The anticipated impact on Indonesian shores is expected between midday and late afternoon.

Earlier, BMKG placed ten regions across Indonesia under tsunami advisory status. The agency estimated wave heights would be under 0.5 meters.

The affected areas and estimated tsunami arrival times are as follows: Talaud Islands at 14:52:24 WITA, Gorontalo City at 16:39:54 WITA, North Halmahera at 16:04:24 WIT, Manokwari at 16:08:54 WIT, Raja Ampat at 16:18:54 WIT, Biak Numfor at 16:21:54 WIT, Supiori at 16:21:54 WIT, North Sorong at 16:24:54 WIT, Jayapura at 16:30:24 WIT, and Sarmi at 16:30:24 WIT.

BMKG’s earthquake and tsunami monitoring unit reported that updated parameters placed the epicenter at 52.51 degrees North latitude and 160.26 degrees East longitude, at a depth of 18 kilometers. The quake originated from subduction activity in the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench and was characterized by a thrust fault mechanism.

According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), the earthquake also carries potential tsunami risk for several other locations including Russia, Japan, Alaska, the Philippines, Hawaii, and Guam.

As of 8:30 a.m. WIB, the agency had recorded seven aftershocks in the region, with magnitudes ranging between 5.4 and 6.9.

BMKG has urged the public to stay alert and follow official information sources, cautioning against misinformation from unofficial channels.

Related news: Indonesia issues tsunami warning after 8.7 quake hits eastern Russia

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