A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Indonesia on Thursday (April 2), killing at least one person, triggering small tsunami waves and briefly prompting a regional tsunami warning that was later lifted.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the shallow quake occurred at a depth of about 35km in the Molucca Sea, between the Sulawesi and Maluku island groups.
Local authorities confirmed a fatality in Manado, North Sulawesi, where a building collapsed during the tremor. A search and rescue official told AFP that another person was injured in the incident.
“The quake was felt strongly. One person died and another suffered a leg injury,” said North Sulawesi rescue official George Leo Mercy Randang, adding that the victim was trapped under debris.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) initially issued an alert, warning of possible hazardous waves within a 1,000km radius, including coastal areas of Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
Shortly after, tsunami waves measuring up to 75cm were recorded in North Minahasa, while 20cm waves were observed in Bitung. Authorities also reported 30cm wave activity in North Maluku.
The tsunami warning was lifted just over two hours later after the PTWC confirmed the threat had passed.
Residents described scenes of panic as the quake struck, with many rushing outdoors as buildings shook for more than a minute. Some said people even ran out of their homes before finishing daily routines.
Indonesian authorities reported at least 11 aftershocks, the strongest measuring 5.5 magnitude, as monitoring efforts continued across affected regions.
The country sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a highly active seismic zone where tectonic plates meet, making earthquakes a frequent occurrence.
No further tsunami warnings were issued by neighbouring agencies in the Philippines, Malaysia or Japan following the event.
