Indonesia earthquake damages buildings, tsunami alerts lifted

JAKARTA: A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Northern Molucca Sea on Thursday, killing one person, damaging buildings and triggering tsunami waves before alerts were later lifted, authorities said.

The quake generated waves in at least five locations, with the highest measuring 0.75 metres in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, Indonesia’s meteorological agency said. Around 50 aftershocks were recorded, including one measuring 5.8.

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) initially warned of potential tsunami waves ranging from 0.5 to 3 metres, but later lifted the alert as conditions stabilised. US tsunami warning authorities also withdrew their earlier advisories for the region.

One person was killed in Manado city when part of a building collapsed, local police said, as residents reported panic and power outages.

Footage broadcast on Indonesian television showed damaged buildings, while residents said items fell from shelves as strong tremors lasted 10 to 20 seconds in parts of North Sulawesi.

Indonesia’s disaster agency said initial reports indicated minor to moderate damage to homes and a church, with assessments ongoing. Officials warned residents to remain cautious due to the possibility of aftershocks and advised people to stay away from damaged structures.

The earthquake struck at a depth of 35 kilometres, with its epicentre located roughly 580 kilometres south of the Philippine coast and 1,000 kilometres from Malaysia’s Sabah region.

Authorities across the region said there was no ongoing tsunami threat. The Philippines’ seismology agency said there was no destructive tsunami risk, while Malaysia also reported no immediate danger but said it was monitoring the situation.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said only minor wave activity was possible across parts of the Pacific, while Japan’s weather agency said waves of up to 0.2 metres could occur but were unlikely to cause damage.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active region prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. Officials urged continued vigilance as aftershocks remain possible.