A School building collapsed after being shaken by the earthquake at West Pasaman. ( Special Photo )
Pasaman Barat, sumbarsatu.com— Friday Morning (25/2/2022) West Pasaman was shaken twice by earthquakes. The first earthquake hit at 08.35 West Indonesian Time with a Magnitude of 5.2. The second earthquake struck 18 kilometers to the east sea of West Pasaman at 10 kilometers deep in the 0.14 latitude north, 99.99 longitude east.
Then 4 minutes interval after earthquake first 08:39 West Indonesia Time, stronger earthquake return shake West Pasaman with magnitude 6.2 that occurs in area 17 kilometers North East of West Pasaman with the same depth in 0.15 latitude north, 99.98 longitudes east
The two earthquakes panicked the inhabitant of West Pasaman, who were about to start their daily activities. They scattered out of their house.
Azhar, the Executive of Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) West Pasaman, said that the earthquake felt strong enough in this West Pasaman caused the panic, the inhabitant scattered out their houses. According to him, records on victims and damaged buildings are being collected.
"Our team is currently working to register the victims and damaged building. We will also build an emergency public kitchen and shelter. I request the inhabitant to stay calm," said Azhar, Friday (25/2/2022).
Meanwhile, the Regent of West Pasaman, Hamsuardi, asked his people to stay calm and follow the information from the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency.
"The people who live by the sea are requested to stay alert although it is informed that the earthquakes will not trigger a tsunami. The people who live near a mountain or by land are also asked to stay alert and protect their family," appealed the Regent.
He asked them not to blame each other for this condition. It is time to embrace and help each other to handle this.
His team is collecting data on the impacts of the earthquake centered at this West Pasaman. He ordered the relevant stakeholders such as BPBD, sub-district heads, and Wali Nagari (village officials) to monitor the people in their working territory.
" I ordered BPBD to help the impacted community, sub-district head to move fast in monitoring their working area, also the Wali Nagari. At this moment, we must build good communication and support each," he said.
He also asked the hospitals to keep serving their patients and avoid panic.
Besides in West Pasaman, the earthquakes also shocked the Payakumbuh City area, Agam Regency, Bukittinggi City, Lima Puluh Kota Regency, Padang Panjang City, and in Riau Province with MMI scale I to II.
Damaged Buildings
It is recorded that dozens of government buildings, banks, schools, and houses were damaged by the earthquakes, such as the Bank Nagari Office of Pasaman Barat in Simpang Tigo, the Hall of West Pasaman Regency Office Hall, and elementary schools in the Kinali.
Meanwhile, the geology expert, Ade Edward, said that the earthquake in West Pasaman is located on the Sumatran Fault and already predicted to happen far before
."The recent earthquake in West Pasaman is similar to the earthquake that happened in March 2007, in Solok Regency area," he said on Friday (25/2/2022).
Ade said the earthquake in West Pasaman is centered at the north of Talamau Mountain. The nearest settlement area is at Talu and Lubuk Sikaping of Pasaman Regency. SSC/MN
Translator Donny Eros
