Indonesia Shaken Again as Another 6.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes the Country

Just hours after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that caused hundreds of casualties, another 6.9-magnitude quake struck northern Sumatra in Indonesia, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The earthquake’s epicenter was located in Pematangsiantar, 126 kilometers from Medan, the capital of western Indonesia, while its focal depth reached 158 kilometers.

At this stage, the death toll from the first 7.7-magnitude earthquake stands at 40.

Because it lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the vast Indonesian archipelago frequently experiences seismic and volcanic activity.

Meanwhile, the German Research Centre for Geosciences reported that a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The quake’s focal depth was recorded at 10 kilometers.