JAKARTA – In the early hours of Thursday, an earthquake struck Indonesian waters, triggering tsunami waves that led to the loss of at least one life and inflicted damage on homes and structures, according to official reports.
The U.S. Geological Survey identified the earthquake’s magnitude at 7.4, with its epicenter located in the Molucca Sea at a depth of 35 kilometers (22 miles).
Within minutes, tsunami waves were registered at several monitoring stations. In Bitung, the waves reached a height of 20 centimeters (8 inches), while in West Halmahera, they measured 30 centimeters (1 foot), as per Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu reported waves measuring 5 centimeters (2 inches) in Davao, located in the southern Philippines. However, it assured that there was no significant threat to more distant regions approximately three hours post-quake.
Residents in Bitung, a coastal city in North Sulawesi province, and those in Ternate city in North Maluku province experienced strong tremors lasting between 10 to 20 seconds, stated Indonesia’s Disaster Management Agency.
Preliminary evaluations indicated light to moderate damage in parts of Ternate. Local disaster officials mentioned that a church in the Batang Dua Island district was impacted, while two homes suffered damage in South Ternate. In Bitung, the extent of damage was still being assessed, as reported by the agency.
Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency reported a 70-year-old woman died in North Sulawesi’s Minahasa district and another resident was injured.
“At this stage, caution is still required, particularly for communities living along the coast,” Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement. He urged residents not to return to beaches or coastal areas until authorities issue an official all-clear.
At least two aftershocks were recorded following the main quake, both offshore. Officials said neither aftershock had tsunami potential, though they were felt in affected areas.
“We had just woken up and suddenly the earthquake hit… we all ran out of the house,” Bitung resident Marten Mandagi said. “The shaking was very strong,”
Mandagi said he had not seen any damage in his area. “We’re still checking whether there is damage or not. But here we are safe, there are no casualties or destruction,” he said.
Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 280 million people, sits on major seismic faults and is frequently hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
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