Ternate, Indonesia – A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Molucca Sea off Indonesia’s Ternate island early Thursday, killing at least one person and causing widespread panic. The tremor, which occurred at 06:48 local time (22:48 GMT) at a depth of 35 km, initially prompted tsunami warnings across parts of Southeast and East Asia, including Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Taiwan. The alert was lifted after two hours.
Authorities reported that a 70-year-old woman in North Sulawesi died after being crushed by debris from a collapsed building, while another individual sustained a broken leg after jumping from a structure in fear.
Residents described the quake as one of the strongest they had felt in the past six years. In Manado, journalist Isvara Safitri told BBC Indonesian that the tremors caused furniture to shake and left her feeling dizzy. Similarly, Yayuk Oktiani from Bitung recalled chaotic scenes in local markets, where power outages occurred and people rushed to safety.
In Ternate, residents reported shaking walls and panicked evacuations, with many fleeing homes mid-activity. Manado and Bitung are located on Sulawesi island, while Ternate is part of North Maluku province. The epicenter was located roughly midway between Manado and Ternate.
The Indonesian national geological agency reported building damage and injuries within an hour of the quake. Two significant aftershocks followed, measuring 5.5 and 5.2, with authorities warning of more tremors.
Footage from search and rescue teams in Manado showed officials and residents navigating through rubble, some shouting in shock. At Siloam Hospital, staff and patients were evacuated rapidly, with nurses setting up makeshift treatment areas outdoors and in vehicles.
While Indonesia experiences frequent seismic activity, this quake stood out for its intensity and widespread impact, highlighting the ongoing risk in the region.
