A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia early Thursday, as reported by the United States Geological Survey. The USGS warned of possible “hazardous tsunami waves” within a 1,000-kilometre radius of the quake’s epicentre. The earthquake’s epicentre was located at 1.20 degrees north latitude and 126.35 degrees east longitude, with a depth of around 30 kilometres.
The tremor, initially measured at 7.8 magnitude, occurred at about 6:48 a.m. local time in the Molucca Sea. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert, stating that hazardous tsunami waves could affect areas within 1,000 km of the epicentre, especially along coastal regions of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The USGS reiterated the warning about potential tsunami threats in areas within the same distance from the epicentre.
Indonesia, situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, remains highly prone to seismic activities due to its location on a vast arc of volcanoes and fault lines. This region, which encircles the Pacific Ocean, is responsible for almost 90% of the world’s earthquakes and is renowned for its frequent seismic and volcanic events. Just last month, on March 3, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Sumatra, causing no significant damage but alarming residents.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency, known as Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika, recorded the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.4, with a depth of 13 kilometres. The country’s seismic activity underscores the continuous monitoring and preparedness required in this seismically active region.
