Powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake jolts Indonesia, tsunami warning lifted, residents report intense shaking
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck Indonesia early Thursday morning, prompting the issuance of a tsunami warning. The tsunami warning was lifted after about three hours.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the preliminary magnitude of the earthquake was recorded at 7.8. It occurred in the Molucca Sea at 06:48 AM local time.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located approximately 120 kilometers from the city of Ternate—a small yet densely populated island with a population exceeding 2 lakh.
The Hawaii-based Tsunami Warning System earlier that waves are possible along the coastal areas of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia within a 1,000-kilometer radius of the earthquake's epicenter.
Intense shaking lasted up to a minute
Residents in Manado, Bitung, and Ternate reported intense shaking lasting up to a minute, with furniture toppling and power outages in some areas. Locals described chaotic scenes as people fled their homes, including parents rushing to schools near the coast amid tsunami fears.
Woman dies as building collapses
A 70-year-old woman in North Sulawesi’s Minahasa district died when a building collapsed in Manado, and another person was injured. Reports described light to moderate damage to several houses and a church in Ternate, while inspections in Bitung were ongoing. Authorities advised residents to stay clear of damaged structures and remain alert for aftershocks.