Phuket Residents Feel Tremors from 5.1 Earthquake in Northern Sumatra
A 5.1-magnitude earthquake in Northern Sumatra was felt in tall buildings on Phuket, but authorities confirmed no damage or tsunami risk and are maintaining close monitoring
Key Points
- 1A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck Northern Sumatra at 11:18 am local time
- 2Tremors were felt in tall buildings on Phuket, with no damage reported
- 3Authorities confirmed there was no tsunami threat to Phuket
- 4Phuket has 19 tsunami warning towers, all operational during the event
- 5Aftershocks were recorded in Indonesia, but no significant damage occurred
Residents of Phuket experienced mild tremors on Wednesday morning following a 5.1-magnitude earthquake that struck Northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The quake was detected at 11:18 am, with its epicenter located 36 kilometers northeast of Gayo Lues in Aceh, and at a depth of 9 kilometers, according to the Thai Meteorological Department. The epicenter was roughly 432 kilometers from Phuket and 328 kilometers from Satun's Muang district, placing it within the range where tremors could be felt in high-rise buildings on the island
Local officials quickly reassured the public that there was no tsunami threat to the area. "People in high buildings could feel the tremors, but there was no damage reported. Our office will monitor closely until we are assured of safety," said Warat Surawadee, head of the local Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office. Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom also confirmed that the province's 19 tsunami warning towers were operational and that assessments indicated no risk of a dangerous wave
The Indonesian news agency Antara reported that the strongest shaking was felt in Gayo Lues, where glassware shattered and large objects swayed. Indonesian authorities recorded one 3.8-magnitude foreshock and two aftershocks, with the largest aftershock registering at 4.3 magnitude by midday. No significant structural damage or casualties were reported in either Indonesia or Thailand, and local monitoring remains in place
For those living or vacationing on Koh Samui and other southern Thai islands, this event is a reminder of the region's seismic activity, but also of the robust monitoring and warning systems in place. OG Lab notes that while tremors may occasionally be felt, the coordinated response from local authorities ensures visitor and resident safety remains a top priority
