Jakarta (TDI): A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Ternate island on Thursday, killing at least one person, damaging buildings, and prompting a brief tsunami warning across the region.
The undersea quake hit the Molucca Sea in North Maluku province at a depth of about 35 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Its epicenter was located roughly 120–130 kilometers from Ternate, an area that experienced strong shaking as residents rushed outdoors in panic.
Authorities reported that a 70-year-old woman was killed in the city of Manado, North Sulawesi, after a building collapsed during the tremor.
Several others were injured, and initial assessments indicated damage to homes, a church, and other structures in affected areas including Ternate and nearby cities.
The earthquake triggered immediate concerns of a tsunami, with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warning that hazardous waves could impact coastlines within a 1,000-kilometre radius, including parts of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
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Small tsunami waves were later recorded, reaching up to about 75 centimeters in some locations in North Sulawesi. However, the alert was lifted approximately two hours after the quake, as monitoring agencies confirmed that the threat had passed and no major destructive waves were expected.
Residents described the shaking as intense and prolonged, lasting up to 20 seconds in some areas. Many fled their homes and buildings amid fears of aftershocks, dozens of which were recorded in the hours following the main quake.
Indonesia’s disaster management authorities urged people to remain cautious, avoid damaged structures, and stay away from coastal areas until conditions were deemed safe.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assess the full extent of the damage, particularly in more remote regions where information is still limited.
Indonesia lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a highly active seismic zone where multiple tectonic plates meet, making the country particularly vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic activity.
This latest quake is a reminder of the region’s persistent geological risks and the importance of early warning systems in minimizing loss of life.
