In brief
A significant 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck in the Molucca Sea near Ternate, Indonesia, early Thursday, resulting in at least one fatality and injuries due to collapsed structures. The quake triggered temporary tsunami warnings that were later canceled, and many residents reported experiencing one of the strongest tremors in recent years. The incident caused considerable damage, with aftershocks following the main quake. Eyewitness accounts highlight chaos and concern among those who felt the impact, underlining the seismic risks faced by the region.
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quake, which struck at 06:48 local time (22:48 GMT) at a depth of 35km, sparked tsunami warnings which have since been withdrawn.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 but lifted the alert 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 felt like the strongest she's experienced over the past six years.Yayuk Oktiani, who lives in Bitung, a city on the northeastern coast of Sulawesi, said she often experiences tremors, but they're never as strong as this one. Oktiani was at the market when everything started shaking. Several stores experienced power outages and as the tremors got stronger, people fled.The national geological agency reported damage to buildings and injuries shortly after the initial tremor, but did not provide further details. Footage from a search and rescue team in Manado shows residents and officials walking through the rubble at a sports complex. Emergency responses were also seen in hospitals where patients and staff were evacuated amidst the chaos. Reports indicate that this earthquake marks a stark reminder of the seismic risks Indonesia faces regularly.
