In brief
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit the Molucca Sea off Indonesia's Ternate island early Thursday, resulting in at least one fatality and several injuries. The quake provoked tsunami alerts, which were later lifted after no significant waves were observed. Reports indicate chaotic scenes as residents fled buildings, while authorities confirmed damage to infrastructure and warned of aftershocks. This quake is noted as one of the strongest felt in the area in recent years.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck in the Molucca Sea off Indonesia's Ternate island early Thursday, killing at least one person. The quake, which struck at 06:48 local time (22:48 GMT) at a depth of 35km, sparked tsunami warnings which have since been withdrawn. A 70-year-old woman in North Sulawesi died after being crushed by building debris, and another person broke their leg after jumping off a building, Indonesia's national news agency Antara reported.While the region experiences high levels of seismic activity, some residents told the BBC this was one of the strongest earthquakes they have felt in at least the past six years. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned that tsunami waves less than 0.3m (1 ft) were possible along the coasts of Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Taiwan. The tsunami alert was lifted after two hours.Journalist Isvara Safitri, who lives in central Manado, recalled how furniture in her room shook for several seconds. It was really strong... My head even felt dizzy, she described. Even the roads outside the house were shaking, and residents expressed that this was among the strongest quakes they had ever experienced.In Bitung, Yayuk Oktiani recalled being at the market when everything started shaking. People fled the area as stores experienced power outages, heading to nearby schools for safety. Ternate resident Budi Nurgianto noted that the walls of his home vibrated for over a minute, creating a scene of panic outside.As reports of injuries and destruction emerged, the epicenter of the quake was confirmed to be roughly midway between Manado and Ternate, followed by two aftershocks measuring 5.5 and 5.2 in magnitude. Footage from rescue operations showed severe damage at local establishments like a sports complex and Siloam Hospital, highlighting the earthquake's impact on the region.
