JAKARTA – A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake rocked Indonesia’s Northern Molucca Sea on Thursday, claiming one life and causing structural damage while generating tsunami waves across the region, according to officials and eyewitness accounts.
Indonesia’s weather monitoring service BMKG reported tsunami waves at five different locations, with the tallest measuring 0.75 meters (2.46 feet) in North Minahasa in North Sulawesi. The agency tracked 11 aftershocks following the initial quake, with the strongest registering magnitude 5.5, and advised residents to remain vigilant.
During a news briefing, BMKG director Teuku Faisal Fathani explained that their computer models suggested tsunami waves could reach heights between 0.5 and 3 meters (1.6 to 9.8 feet).
American tsunami monitoring centers initially warned of dangerous tsunami conditions along coastlines in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia within 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) of the earthquake’s center, though they subsequently canceled the alert.
The lone fatality occurred in the Manado region when debris from a collapsing sports authority building struck a victim, North Sulawesi police deputy chief Awi Setiyono reported to media outlets.
The Southeast Asian nation sits along the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” an extremely active seismic region where multiple tectonic plates converge, generating frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity among the country’s more than 130 active volcanoes.
The earthquake’s epicenter was located approximately 580 kilometers (360 miles) south of Philippine shores and 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from Malaysia’s Sabah region.
“Although relatively small, this situation still requires vigilance due to the potential for aftershocks,” Indonesia’s national disaster agency stated, noting preliminary reports showed minor to moderate damage to residential homes and a church, with comprehensive damage assessments ongoing.
The agency reported that initial tremors lasted 10 to 20 seconds in Bitung City and Ternate City, with follow-up aftershocks occurring offshore. Officials urged citizens to stay calm and follow official guidance until safety could be confirmed.
Indonesian Metro TV broadcast footage showing damaged structures, while a Manado resident speaking to Reuters described people fleeing their homes in fear. Though her neighborhood showed no obvious damage, household items had fallen and electricity was disrupted, the resident noted.
Philippine seismic monitoring agency Phivolcs determined there was “no destructive tsunami threat” to their nation based on current information, while Malaysia’s weather service found no immediate tsunami danger but continued monitoring the situation.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned about possible waves under 0.3 meters (1 foot) above normal tide levels affecting Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Taiwan.
Japanese authorities predicted waves reaching 0.2 meters (8 inches) but anticipated no damage, though the Japan Meteorological Agency warned Pacific tsunami activity remained possible.
