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March 18, 2025 | 09:50 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) stated that two earthquakes with magnitudes of M5.5 and M5.6 that occurred in North Sumatra on Tuesday morning, March 18, 2025, weredoublet earthquakes.
A doublet is distinct tremor sequences with two or more main shocks of similar magnitudes, occurring in relatively close proximity in time and location of the earthquake's epicenter
The statement also updated BMKG's initial information on Tuesday morning that the M5.6 earthquake occurred offshore, 83 kilometers southwest of Mandailing Natal.
In the updated information, it was revealed that the earthquake was located on land, in the North Tapanuli region--similar to the M5.5 earthquake that occurred almost a minute later, at 05:23 a.m. Western Indonesia Time. Similarly, the depth of both earthquakes was reported to be 10 kilometers.
"The type of shallow crustal earthquake is triggered by the activity of the Great Sumatra Fault, Toru Segment," said the Head of BMKG's Earthquake and Tsunami Center, Daryono, in a statement, which was later confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.
He explained that the distance between the two earthquake centers was only nine kilometers with a time difference of precisely 56 seconds. Up until midday, Daryono added, there had been 10 aftershocks.
From North Tapanuli, the Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency, Bonggas Pasaribu, urged residents in the area to stay away from cliffs to avoid soil movements that may occur. Previously, he noted that the earthquake's impact had spread across two sub-districts, Pahae Jae and Pahae Julu.
Damage caused by the earthquake in North Tapanuli, North Sumatra, March 18, 2025. Doc. BPDB North Tapanuli
Damage was experienced by several public facilities, such as schools, health centers, and churches, due to the earthquake. Additionally, in the Pahae Jae Sub-district, the office of the Village Head of Pardomuan Nainggolan and the Siriaria Bridge in Siopat Bahal Village also suffered damage.
According to ongoing data, said Pasaribu, one person was reported dead in the Pahae Julu Sub-district, identified as Kartini Manalu (70 years old), a resident of Lumban Tongatonga Hamlet, Hutabarat Village. One person was injured, named Hulman Hutabarat (67 years old), from the same hamlet. Both victims were spouses living in the same house.
"They were sleeping at home when the quake struck, causing the nearby mountain cliff to collapse and bury their house," said Pasaribu.
Latest reports indicated that the Sumatra Crossroad was also cut off due to landslides on the Tarutung-Sidimpuan stretch. "Six heavy machinery units were deployed to clear the landslide debris on the road," said Pasaribu.
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