Scientists Slam Jakarta Earthquake SMS Rumor
October 19, 2009
The message warning people to stay away from tall buildings on Friday is just plain false, says Indonesia's seismology agency. (Photo: Dimas Ardian, Bloomberg) Related articles
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336328It's silly to say that someone can predict earthquake. It's simply something that you can't predict. Even countries with the most sophisticated technology can't predict when it strikes. Earthquake is the movement of plates all around the world. So, there always be an earthquake anywhere and anytime. What matters is the strength and the location. When it's strong, it causes immense damages. So is when it's close the the surface. Then people start paying attention and become afraid.
I thought Indonesia is in the rings of fire. Which is causing all of the earthquakes and volcanoes. I think no one can predict when earthquake gonna strike or where.Even the country with the most sophisticated technology can't predict it. It simply happens esp. in the area such Indonesia and California. You can have a look on websites such http://denali.gsfc.nasa.gov/research/lowman/lowman.html to see that the Eurasia Plate is actually in the bottom area of Java and Sumatra, where there has been an active and strong scale earthquakes all around the area. Earthquake happens everyday in various places. It's the matter of the strength. When it's so strong, people can feel it and they become frightened.
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Indonesia's seismology agency is strongly refuting rumors that it has predicted an earthquake in Jakarta on Friday.
The National Geophysics, Climatology and Meteorogy Agency (BMKG) said Tuesday that the rumor, which is circulating on SMS, e-mail and instant messaging, is misinformation designed to spark panic.
"BMKG never issued an earthquake prediction or warning," BMKG spokesman Edison Gurning told the Jakarta Globe.
He added that Indonesia is an earthquake-prone country, but scientists cannot predict when quakes will strike.
The message claims the BMKG has "predicted an earthquake will happen on October 24, 2009. There is a tectonic plate sliding to Jakarta [sic] which will probably trigger an earthquake with magnitude between 8 to 8.5 on Richter scale. People are suggested to keep away from tall buildings. For those who do not believe the prediction, just search Google and see that Java island has the most earthquake rings. Pass the information to your closest friends."
The message also advises Blackberry users to active 'quake detector software', but it is not clear which software it is referring to.
JG
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