The earthquake occurred in the early morning of April 2 (local time), with a depth of about 35km, with the epicenter located about 127km northwest of Ternate city, Indonesia, according to USGS. Initially, the intensity was recorded at 7.8 degrees before adjusting to 7.4 degrees Richter.
The US tsunami warning system said that the risk of tsunamis may appear within 1,000km of the epicenter, affecting the coastal areas of Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. Some areas of Indonesia may record waves 0.3 to 1m above sea level.
Meanwhile, other areas such as Japan, Taiwan (China), Papua New Guinea and Guam are forecast to have only small waves under 30cm.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said that "slight sea level fluctuations" may appear along the coast of this country but do not cause damage due to tsunamis. Meanwhile, the Australian Meteorological Administration affirmed that there is no risk of tsunamis for the mainland and territories of Australia.
In Manado city, North Sulawesi province, strong shaking caused people to panic and run out. According to a reporter at the scene, the shaking lasted quite a long time, causing many people to wake up in the middle of the night.
People immediately poured into the streets. Students at a nearby school also ran out" - this person said.
Indonesian television Metro TV reported that 1 person was killed by falling bricks and stones in the Manado area.
Indonesia - an archipelago nation with more than 280 million people - is located on the "Pacific Ring of Fire", the area with the densest seismic and volcanic activity in the world, causing the country to frequently suffer earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
In the past, this country has witnessed many serious disasters. In 2022, the 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Cianjur, West Java killed at least 602 people.
Previously, in 2018, the earthquake and tsunami in Sulawesi claimed more than 4,300 lives. In particular, the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami disaster killed more than 230,000 people in dozens of countries, mostly in Aceh province of Indonesia.
