A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck early Thursday near Ternate, an island in Indonesia’s Molucca archipelago, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The quake occurred at about 5:48 a.m. local time, between northern Sulawesi and the North Molucca Islands, approximately 127 kilometres west of Ternate, with a depth of around 35 kilometres.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency had initially placed the magnitude at 7.6 before confirming updated readings.
In the immediate aftermath, authorities issued a tsunami warning for areas surrounding the Molucca Sea, raising concerns among coastal communities. However, the alert was later lifted after further assessments indicated no significant threat.
Indonesia is situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, making such incidents relatively common in the region.
The latest tremor has once again highlighted the country’s vulnerability to natural disasters, particularly in coastal and island communities.
Memories of past catastrophes remain significant, especially the December 26, 2004 earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, which measured 9.1 in magnitude and triggered a massive tsunami across the Indian Ocean.
That disaster affected multiple countries, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India, with waves reaching as far as the eastern coast of Africa. It resulted in the deaths of more than 230,000 people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation following the latest earthquake, although no immediate reports of widespread damage or casualties have been confirmed.
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