Indonesian earthquake
The news is full of the massive earthquake that shook Sumatra on Wednesday. The 7.9 shaker rattled buildings and caused a 9ft tsunami to hit the port of Padang. Here in Bali we did not feel anything, at least I didn’t, neither did anyone I’ve talked to.
Padang was one of the places mentioned after the Asian tsunami as a point which was vulnerable to a tsunami due to its low level. Here’s more from the Jakarta Post.
Powerful earthquake triggers tsunami in western Indonesia
JAKARTA (AP): A massive earthquake hit Indonesia onWednesday, triggering a tsunami in the town of Padang and warnings for much of the Indian Ocean region, meteorological officials said.
The tremor caused tall buildings to sway in a least four countries.
“We received a report 20 minutes after the quake that a one- to three-meter wave hit Padang,” said Suhardjono, an official with Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) who goes by only one name. “But communication has been difficult since then.”
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also said a small tsunami hit Padang.
Indonesia has earthquakes every couple of weeks, most of which are in undeveloped locations. My worry is when one hits Bali, with all the rampant building going on, cement structures on a fault line. Half of Denpasar will be flattened for sure, and some of those ‘luxury villas’ will be shown to be what they are…overpriced cement boxes. Want to hear something funny? A while ago I was typing in my upstairs bedroom, when something hit the floor. Turning around I saw it was a foot long chunk of cement, that had flaked off of a support beam and fallen to the floor. Imagine that the support structures are so degraded that gravity will make them disintegtrate! What would an earthquake do?
Having been in earthquakes before here in Indonesia, the Philippines and California, I’d advise people to get outside quickly and safely, avoid using elevators and be aware of falling masonry. If trapped inside lay down next to something solid like a stone bath tub or kitchen counter.
By Nick | Permalink |
7 comments | September 12th, 2007 | Trackback
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Comments
[...] Original post by Nick [...]
Cement structure buildings should hold up fairly well in earthquakes providing steel reinforcing is used. Good to hear Bali escaped this one as i don’t want to see another tourist hit again. I was in L.A last week and felt my first earthquake that was only a 3.9 but still scary as hell. We are still waiting of the historical big one to hit in the Vancouver area of Canada. Hopefully I will be in Bali when and if that one hits.
good to hear you didn’t feel anything in bali! my son is there and i have not heard from him so i was a bit worried but now i feel better! thanks!
Nick: Your account of the new earthquake to hit West Sumatra on Wednesday reminds me of the many earthquakes I’ve experienced in Seattle, Wa—three to be exact. The last on was a real dusey.(spelling) Thought the building was going to come tumbling down. I keep talking on the phone at the time of the quake because it was shaking the building upwards and side ways simultaniously. Never had felt one like that. Since I grew up in San Diego I was accustomed to small earthquakes, yet, I guess they never become second nature to us. Heard recently that Seattle, where I presently live is ready for the big one… Time will tell… Only pray I will not be driving on the Seattle Way Via-duct which experts predict will cause a similar situation to the big one that hit San Francisco, Ca a number of years ago. In Campuhan where I live a small earthquake hit while I was there and a bamboo beam on are lanai simply fell a few feet. Scary..
Hi Nick, I’m brazilian, and my sister is in Padang-Padang, Bali. The last e-mail she sent us was on the 1st. of setember. I understand that there are two cities called Padang, one in Sumatra and the other in Bali. Do you confirm this information? And if so, do you have any information about Padang-Padand? Do you know if the earthquake did hit the city? We are trying to get in touch with her, but the hotel’s telephone is not working…
Nick, I\’m sure happy to see this report too. My son is also in Bali and I\’ve not heard from him. You\’re providing a valuable service for those of us who are wondering about our loved ones. I hope you\’ll give us frequent updates. I\’m curious, is there any tsunami-warning system in Bali? Was Bali hit with the last tsunami? Thanks!
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Update from Jakarta Post
Another quake hits Sumatra at 7:21 p.m.
JAKARTA (JP): Another earthquake hit West Sumatra on Wednesday, one hour after a powerful quake struck its neighboring province, Bengkulu, at 6:10 p.m.
The earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 wascentered 154 kilometers southwest of Painan, West Sumatra at a depth of 66 kilometers, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency reported on its website.