Indonesia hit by 7.4 quake as tsunami alert is lifted
Indonesia hit by 7.4 quake as tsunami alert is lifted
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake near Indonesia’s Molucca Sea triggered a brief tsunami alert that was later lifted, with reported damage and one confirmed death.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia in the early hours, shallow at 35 km, around 6:48 am local time in the Molucca Sea. The epicentre was about 120 km from Ternate, and strong shaking was felt in Bitung and surrounding areas. The USGS initially pegged the quake at 7.8 before later assessments refined the figure. The tremor set off small tsunami waves and at least one person was killed, with damage to houses and buildings reported in the area.
A tsunami warning was issued for parts of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia but was lifted as authorities said the threat of large waves had passed. Monitoring stations logged small wave activity: Bitung recorded about 20 cm, West Halmahera about 30 cm, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center noted 5 cm in Davao, Philippines. About three hours after the quake, officials said there was no threat to distant regions and that the warning could be canceled.
Initial damage assessments described light to moderate impacts in the Kasih area of Ternate and nearby districts. One church in the Batang Dua Island district was affected and two houses were damaged in South Ternate, with further checks underway in Bitung as disaster teams review structural integrity. Images from Manado showed debris in affected areas, underscoring the tremor’s reach.
Authorities continue to monitor for aftershocks and provide guidance to coastal communities while damage assessments proceed, emphasizing caution even as warnings have been lifted.
