Indonesia: Two earthquakes strike off coast of Timor August 27

Event

Two back-to-back earthquakes struck 74 km (45 mi) off the southern coast of Timor around 15:08 and 15:13 (local time) on Tuesday, August 28, according to the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysics Council (BMKG). The quakes were both shallow, with epicenters at 10 km (6.2 mi) depth, though the BMKG did not issue a tsunami warning. As of 15:50, there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Further aftershocks are possible.

Context

Indonesia lies within the active seismic zone known as "the Pacific Ring of Fire."

Advice

Individuals present in the impacted region are advised to monitor the situation, be prepared for further aftershocks, and heed all instructions issued by local authorities. Individuals elsewhere in Indonesia are advised to defer nonessential travel to the affected areas until further notice.

During an earthquake, individuals are advised to protect themselves as much as possible from falling debris if indoors (e.g. under a table), to move away from windows and exterior walls, and do not attempt to leave the building unless there is an immediate danger. If outdoors, move away from any tall structures, such as buildings, utility wires, and streetlights.