Tectonic Earthquake Hits Kalimantan

Tanjung, S. Kalimantan, Dec 4 (ANTARA) - A tectonic earthquake jolted areas around Meratus Mountain, situated amid Tabalong district and Balangan district of South Kalimantan, on Tuesday at 10.30am. Tabalong residents panicked as the tremors continued for at least five seconds. Besides, Tabalong District Administration (Pemkab) officials also felt strong shocks at their office premises. "The computers and glasses on the wall were all shaking quite a bit," Pemkab Public Service Officer Paramita said here on Tuesday. "I was shocked to hear the creaking noises. The earthquake only happened for five seconds but the jolt felt so strong," she added. Some Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) personnel ran out of their office building for the fear that the building would collapse. The tremor was also felt in Murung Pudak and Kelua sub-districts. Chairman of Mining and Energy Sub-official Nanang Mulkani confirmed that the tremor was a tectonic earthquake. He said a similar earthquake had hit the area, particularly Tanjung city, during the eighties. "During 1980s, a similar earthquake had happened in Murung area near Tanjung market. Its duration was short, but jolt was strong," Nanang noted. "I think the earthquake in Tabalong is a result of the earthquake in Makassar Strait," he added. Meanwhile, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of Indonesia was unable to record the earthquake in Kalimantan. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) also had no record of any tectonic activity in the area.