A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Molucca Sea off Indonesia’s Ternate island early Thursday, leaving at least one person dead and triggering tsunami warnings that were later withdrawn.
The quake hit at 06:48 local time (22:48 GMT) at a depth of 35km. Authorities initially warned of possible tsunami waves before lifting the alert about two hours later.
A 70-year-old woman in North Sulawesi died after being crushed by debris from a collapsed building, while another person reportedly broke a leg after jumping from a structure, according to Indonesia’s Antara news agency.
Although earthquakes are common in the region, residents said the tremor was among the strongest they had experienced in years.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center first warned that tsunami waves of less than 0.3m (1 ft) could affect the coasts of Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Taiwan. However, the warning was later cancelled.
Journalist Isvara Safitri, who lives in central Manado, said furniture inside her room shook violently for several seconds.
“It was really strong… My head even felt dizzy,” Safitri told BBC Indonesian.
She added that even the roads outside seemed to move, describing the quake as “feels like the strongest” she had experienced in at least six years.
In Bitung, a city on Sulawesi’s north-eastern coast, resident Yayuk Oktiani said she had experienced tremors before, “but they’re never as strong as this one”.
Oktiani was at a market when “everything started shaking”. She said several shops lost electricity and people ran for safety as the shaking intensified.
She immediately went to her child’s school, which is located “very close” to the sea.
“The situation there was chaotic… The teachers immediately told parents to bring their children home, even though they had only just arrived,” she told the BBC.
In Ternate, resident Budi Nurgianto said the walls of his home shook for what felt like more than a minute, forcing him to rush outside.
“There were many people outside… I even saw some people leaving their house without having finished their shower,” he told AFP news agency.
Manado and Bitung are on Sulawesi island, while Ternate is a volcanic island in North Maluku province. The epicentre was located roughly halfway between Manado and Ternate.
At least two aftershocks measuring 5.5 and 5.2 followed the initial quake, and authorities warned that more tremors could occur.
Indonesia’s geological agency said there had been “damage to buildings and injuries” about an hour after the quake, although it did not provide further details.
Footage released by a search and rescue team in Manado showed residents and officials moving through rubble at a sports complex while some shouted “oh my God”.
Large furniture had been thrown to the ground, while several metal structures appeared badly twisted.
A patient at Siloam Hospital in Manado, identified as Admini, 69, described the panic that unfolded during the evacuation.
“We were sitting there drinking tea… [Initially we] didn’t realise it was an earthquake. And then we heard a child scream, ‘Come down, hurry up,’ ” said Admini.
Doctors and nurses quickly created temporary treatment areas outdoors and inside vehicles.
“Everyone was huddled together outside,” Admini said. “Some were in wheelchairs, others were helping each other.”
