Indonesia issues alert with ‘possible hazardous tsunami waves’ after huge magnitude 7.4 earthquake
A powerful earthquake has struck Indonesia’s eastern waters, killing one person and triggering a tsunami warning across the region.
The magnitude 7.4 quake hit the Molucca Sea early Thursday morning, with the US Geological Survey confirming it struck at 6.48am local time at a depth of 35km.
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Its epicentre was located about 127km west-northwest of Ternate.
In the immediate aftermath, the US Tsunami Warning System warned “hazardous tsunami waves” were possible within 1000km of the quake’s epicentre, sparking alerts across coastal communities.
Authorities urged residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and move to safer ground if advised, as officials assessed the threat.
Dramatic footage from affected areas shows residents gathered along the shoreline before suddenly fleeing as the water rapidly recedes — a potential warning sign of a tsunami.
Locals said the sudden drop in sea level sparked fears of an incoming surge, triggering a chaotic rush to higher ground.
Videos capture people shouting “run, run” as others scramble from the beach, some visibly distressed and in tears.
“The water has receded and people are scattering everywhere. Some are crying,” a local said.
In Batang Dua, near Ternate, locals reported the ground began shaking, sending people into the streets.
“There is panic across the Batang Dua community, with people planning to leave for Ternate,” a person speaking in the video said.
“There are also several houses that have just collapsed … due to the earthquake this morning.”
Further north in Manado, North Sulawesi, the quake caused damage inside buildings, including a church where huge sections of the ceiling collapsed.
“The impact has also affected our parish church, Sacred Heart of Jesus, where the ceiling has collapsed,” a local said.
“Granite and asbestos ceiling panels have fallen and are now scattered inside the church.”
One person has died after being struck by falling rubble in the Manado area.
Indonesia, home to more than 280 million people, sits along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, making earthquakes and volcanic eruptions a frequent and often deadly reality.
The memory of the 2004 Indian Ocean disaster continues to loom large.
A massive undersea quake triggered a tsunami on Boxing Day killing more than 230,000 people across a dozen countries, with Indonesia’s Aceh province among the hardest hit.
The latest quake, initially recorded as magnitude 7.6 before being downgraded, struck in similar tectonic conditions, underscoring the ever-present risk in the region.
There have been no immediate reports of damage or casualties but authorities are continuing to monitor for aftershocks and any changes to the tsunami threat.