At least one dead and several injured in Indonesia following a magnitude six earthquake

At least one person has died and several have been injured in Indonesia as a result of a magnitude 6 earthquake registered this Saturday in the North Rapanuli region of North Sumatra at 2.28 a.m. (local time).

The visual report received by the Operations and Control Center of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) shows that several residents have suffered head injuries and required intensive care, the BNPB has posted on its website.

The earthquake’s hypocenter has occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers and this has no potential for a tsunami. However, it has been followed by several aftershocks, the last one just over an hour later.

The series of tremors has been felt moderately between three and five seconds and has caused power outages in Northern Tapanuli, Humbang Hasundutan, Toba, Labuhanbatu Utara and Medan, where authorities have reported people panicking and running out of their homes.

As a form of community anticipation of the potential and threats of disasters that may be caused by earthquakes, BNPB has called for increased preparedness and vigilance for possible aftershocks. In addition, it has asked not to block evacuation routes from homes with large objects such as cabinets or tables.

BNPB has asked people residing near the coast to pay attention when there is an earthquake lasting more than 30 seconds and immediately go to a higher place to avoid the possibility of a tsunami.