Indonesia Earthquake: Minute long tremors felt in Male’ City

Maldives Meteorological Services (Met) on Monday detailed that the effects of the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Indonesia were felt in Male’ City.

The authority noted that the tremors from the earthquake that hit 198 kilometres from Padang City, West Sumatra were felt for a minute in Male’.

The earthquake hit at approximately 08:29 am Maldivian time, 2,854 kilometres away from Male’ City.

“There were three rounds of tremours. The chair [I was sitting on] also shook. It was not too much. At first, I thought I was feeling dizzy. But when the same thing was felt by others, realized it was an earthquake,” said an employee who works on the seventh floor of the Fuel Supply Maldives (FSM) building.

Some employees working at Roashanee Building where Health Ministry offices are based also felt the tremors, prompting an evacuation.

“I personally didn’t feel it. But some employees said they felt the tremors. That’s why we evacuated,” said a director at the Health Ministry.

Director at Met office Ahmed Rasheed said to Sun that there are two meters placed to detect earthquakes. One in Hdh. Hanimaadhoo and the other in L.Kahdhoo. He stated that today’s earthquake was picked up by the meter in Hanimaadhoo.

“At 09:02 the tremors were reported. The waves lasted for about a minute."

Additionally, he revealed that in Maldives reports of feeling tremors came from Male’ region only.

“This was not such a powerful earthquake. That’s why only those in high buildings reported feeling the tremors.”

Moreover, Ahmed said that there was no threat of a tsunami to Maldives with this earthquake.

A magnitude 9.1 earthquake that occurred in the year 2004 at Sumatra created a tsunami, killing over 200,000 people in communities along the surrounding coasts of the Indian Ocean, including the Maldives.