Magnitude 6.6 Quake Jolts Simeulue Island, Indonesia; No Tsunami Threat or Major Damage Reported

Indonesia Jolted by Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake Near Simeulue Island

Indonesia's western region experienced a significant seismic event on November 27, as a powerful magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, near Simeulue Island. The tremor, which occurred at 11:56 AM local time (12:56 PM Singapore time), immediately prompted residents across the island to evacuate buildings and seek safety outdoors.

Residents Flee as Ground Shakes

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake at a depth of 25 kilometers. Crucially, despite its considerable strength, there were no immediate reports of significant structural damage or casualties. Furthermore, a major concern in such events, a tsunami warning, was not issued—a substantial relief for the vulnerable island communities.

An eyewitness, Mr. Ahmadi, recounted his experience from a coffee shop on Simeulue. “I was sitting down at a coffee shop, suddenly the table was shaking. Many people rushed outside of buildings and houses,” he described, noting the quake's duration, which he estimated to be “around seven seconds or more.” Ahmadi also mentioned several subsequent aftershocks, though these were shorter in comparison, and he had received no information regarding any damages.

Official Assessments Confirm No Tsunami Threat

Both the Indian Ocean tsunami warning center and Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) quickly confirmed the absence of a tsunami threat. The BMKG, while recording the quake at a slightly different magnitude of 6.3 and a shallower depth of 10 kilometers, reiterated that the jolt did not possess the potential to generate a destructive tsunami.

Indonesia's Volatile Seismic Landscape

Indonesia's geographical position renders it highly susceptible to frequent seismic activity. The vast archipelago lies directly on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a volatile arc where numerous tectonic plates converge and collide, leading to intense and regular earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This geological reality means that the country often grapples with powerful tremors.

Past devastating earthquakes in Indonesia serve as grim reminders of this vulnerability. In January 2021, a magnitude 6.2 quake on Sulawesi island tragically claimed over 100 lives and left thousands displaced. Even more catastrophic was the magnitude 7.5 earthquake and subsequent tsunami that hit Palu, also on Sulawesi, in 2018, resulting in more than 2,200 fatalities. Fortunately, the recent Simeulue quake, while alarming, appears to have spared the region from such widespread devastation.