A strong earthquake measuring 7.6 magnitude jolted the Northern Molucca Sea in eastern Indonesia on April 2, causing widespread alarm and a brief tsunami alert in the region. The seismic activity claimed one life and inflicted damage on numerous structures in the area.
The quake struck around 7:48 am local time, originating approximately 580 km south of the Philippine coast and 1,000 km from Sabah, Malaysia, according to reports from Reuters. Residents in Bitung City and Ternate City felt the tremors for 10-20 seconds.
Indonesia’s national disaster agency emphasized the need for caution despite the earthquake’s relatively smaller scale, citing the potential for aftershocks. Initial assessments indicated minor to moderate structural harm, including houses and a church, with further evaluation ongoing.
In the aftermath, Indonesia’s meteorology agency, BMKG, confirmed tsunami waves reaching five coastal points following the seismic event in the Northern Molucca Sea. The largest wave, at 0.75 meters, was observed in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, although earlier projections hinted at waves as high as 3 meters.
Authorities monitored 11 aftershocks post the main quake, with the most significant registering a magnitude of 5.5, prompting ongoing alerts for public vigilance. While initial warnings from US tsunami authorities suggested potential hazards for coastlines within a 1,000-kilometer radius of the epicenter, the international threat alert has since been lifted.