Jakarta [Indonesia], March 8 (ANI): An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 struck Indonesia on Sunday, according to a statement from the National Center for Seismology (NCS).
The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, making it more susceptible to aftershocks.
In a post on X, the NCS said, “EQ of M: 5.3, On: 08/03/2026 11:35:08 IST, Lat: 2.24 N, Long: 96.77 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Indonesia.”
Shallow earthquakes are generally considered more dangerous than deeper ones because seismic waves travel a shorter distance to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and potentially greater structural damage and casualties.
Indonesia is exposed to multiple natural hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, cyclones, floods, landslides, and drought.
Located along the Pacific Ring of Fire and at the intersection of three active tectonic plates, the country experiences significant seismic and volcanic activity.
Indonesia is also vulnerable to extreme weather events, and the risk, impact, and occurrence of natural hazards are expected to increase.
The country remains at risk of megathrust earthquakes, which are among the most powerful and can generate destructive tsunamis. One such event was the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake of magnitude 9.0 originating from the Sunda megathrust off the coast of Aceh province. The quake triggered a massive tsunami that affected more than a dozen countries in the region, leaving over 230,000 people dead, including more than 167,000 in Indonesia alone.
Indonesia experiences an average of about 20 earthquakes a day, although most are too weak to be felt. (ANI)
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