Sequence of Earthquakes in Palu Still Occur, This Explained FMIPA UI Geologist

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake that ended in a tsunami occurred in Palu, Central Sulawesi on Friday (28/9). Until today, Wednesday (3/10) a series of earthquakes continue to accompany the main earthquake despite its relatively small strength.

Recorded in the data of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), to this day at 07.00 WIB, there were 362 aftershocks of aftershocks following a large earthquake that shook Palu City and Donggala District, Central Sulawesi last week.

Reza Syahputra, geologist FMIPA UI revealed that aftershocks that often occur after a large earthquake are a normal stabilization process.

This, he said, is due to rock faults seeking balance. Because the fracture is large in scale, there is stabilization to return to normal conditions.

“The position of the rock sometimes if the position is not right, it will always find a balance, this is what causes shocks”. said Reza.

Reza gave an example of the earthquake in Lombok, which until recently had still left aftershocks that were relatively small in shocks. “It means that if this large-scale rock fracture has locked it means it is stable, and there is no shock”. he explained.