An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck the Northern Molucca Sea near Indonesia’s historic spice island of Ternate, triggering a tsunami warning for nearby Southeast Asian nations, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Despite aftershocks reaching up to a magnitude of 5, there have been no immediate reports of injuries. Indonesia issued tsunami warnings for certain areas in its North Maluku and North Sulawesi provinces.
Regional authorities in cities like Ternate and Tidore have advised residents to prepare for evacuation, as news channels show damaged buildings. The earthquake, initially reported as a 7.8 magnitude, occurred at a depth of 35 km (22 miles), revised from the initial estimate of 10 km (6 miles) by the USGS. The epicenter was approximately 120 km (75 miles) from Ternate in North Maluku, which has a population of over 200,000 people.
Tsunamis are considered a hazard along the coastlines of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia within 1,000 km (620 miles) of the earthquake’s epicenter, as stated by US tsunami warning authorities. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that waves between 0.3 m and 1 m (0.98 ft to 3.28 ft) above normal tide levels could impact certain coastal areas in Indonesia. Additionally, there is a risk of waves under 0.3 m (1 ft) above sea level for the coasts of Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Taiwan.
The Japan Meteorological Agency mentioned the possibility of waves up to 0.2 m (8 inches) in Japan, with no expected damage. Meanwhile, Indonesia, known for its high seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire where tectonic plates converge, continues to monitor the situation closely.
