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quake, which struck at 06:48 local time (22:48 GMT) at a depth of 35km, sparked tsunami warnings that have since been withdrawn.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, Safitri told BBC Indonesian. Even the roads outside the house were shaking, she said, adding that the earthquake feels like the strongest she's experienced over the past six years.
Yayuk Oktiani, who lives in Bitung, a city on the north-eastern coast of Sulawesi, said she often experiences tremors, but they're never as strong as this one. At the market when everything started shaking, Oktiani observed several stores experienced power outages and many fled as the tremors intensified.
In Ternate, resident Budi Nurgianto recalled the walls in his house vibrating for what felt like more than a minute, leading to a scene of panic as he rushed outside. There were many people outside... I even saw some people leaving their house without having finished their shower, he shared.
The major quake was followed by at least two aftershocks registering magnitudes of 5.5 and 5.2, prompting authorities to warn of potential further seismic activity. The national geological agency reported damage to buildings and injuries about an hour after the initial tremor.
Footage from a search and rescue team in Manado shows residents and officials walking through rubble at a sports complex, and numerous reports indicate residents felt anxious as they dealt with the aftereffects of the quake. Hospital patients experienced frantic evacuation efforts, with nurses and doctors quickly setting up makeshift treatment areas outside.
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, Safitri told BBC Indonesian. Even the roads outside the house were shaking, she said, adding that the earthquake feels like the strongest she's experienced over the past six years.
Yayuk Oktiani, who lives in Bitung, a city on the north-eastern coast of Sulawesi, said she often experiences tremors, but they're never as strong as this one. At the market when everything started shaking, Oktiani observed several stores experienced power outages and many fled as the tremors intensified.
In Ternate, resident Budi Nurgianto recalled the walls in his house vibrating for what felt like more than a minute, leading to a scene of panic as he rushed outside. There were many people outside... I even saw some people leaving their house without having finished their shower, he shared.
The major quake was followed by at least two aftershocks registering magnitudes of 5.5 and 5.2, prompting authorities to warn of potential further seismic activity. The national geological agency reported damage to buildings and injuries about an hour after the initial tremor.
Footage from a search and rescue team in Manado shows residents and officials walking through rubble at a sports complex, and numerous reports indicate residents felt anxious as they dealt with the aftereffects of the quake. Hospital patients experienced frantic evacuation efforts, with nurses and doctors quickly setting up makeshift treatment areas outside.
