balinews An official from the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, or BPPT, has been forced to deny rumors that a tidal wave spotted in Java and Bali caused a 6.2 Richter scale earthquake. While tidal waves can be caused by earthquakes, earthquakes are not caused by the waves, only by activity in the earth's tectonic plates. The earthquake, according to the national weather agency, or BMKG, did occur at sea on June 9 — 286 kilometers northwest of West Sumbawa, 10 kilometers deep — and was felt in Denpasar, Kuta and Mataram, as stated on their official website. However, the pemburuombak.com website has linked the earthquake with the high waves, calling on Bali to prepare for increased tidal activity and more expected earthquakes caused by the waves — due to the alignment of the sun, moon and earth — until September. “The article is a hoax. Tidal waves at sea have no direct connection with the earthquake,” Widjo Kongko from BPPT said in Jakarta, Saturday (18/06). Widjo said that the tidal waves along the southern coastlines were caused by increasing sea levels due to the combination of a cyclone, swell and high tides on June 8 and 9. Tech Agency Slams Rumors Tidal Wave Caused Earthquake in Bali | Jakarta Globe
