Sumatra (Indonesia): A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck western Sumatra late Saturday, according to data from the United States Geological Survey, marking the second powerful tremor to shake Indonesia within a single day. The earthquake was centred near Pematangsiantar, approximately 126 kilometres southeast of Medan, at a focal depth of around 183 kilometres.
Disaster management authorities confirmed that no tsunami warning was triggered following the deep tremor in Sumatra, and there were no immediate reports of major structural damage or casualties from the surrounding area. The deep focal point of the earthquake helped mitigate widespread ground impact across North Sumatra.
The seismic event occurred just hours after a devastating 7.7-magnitude shallow earthquake struck off the coast of Flores Island in eastern Indonesia earlier in the morning. The initial disaster in East Nusa Tenggara caused extensive destruction, collapsed dozens of buildings, triggered landslides along major transit corridors, and claimed at least 38 lives, placing emergency response agencies across the nation on high alert.
