1 dead, buildings damaged in 7.4 earthquake in Indonesia, tsunami warning lifted

A powerful 7.4‑magnitude undersea earthquake struck off the northern Indonesian coast early Thursday, causing widespread damage, triggering a brief tsunami warning , and killing at least one person, authorities and residents said. The quake occurred in the Northern Molucca Sea at a depth of about 35 kilometres , with its epicentre roughly 127 km west‑northwest of Ternate Island .

The earthquake produced strong shaking lasting 10 to 20 seconds that was felt across multiple provinces, including Bitung in North Sulawesi and Ternate in North Maluku, prompting residents to flee buildings and gather in open streets to avoid collapsing structures.

Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency reported that a 70‑year‑old woman died when a building collapsed in Manado city and others were injured, with at least three people hospitalized in Ternate. Officials described varying degrees of structural damage, including homes, a church and public buildings such as a sports complex in North Sumatra .

Shortly after the quake hit, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for coastal areas within roughly 1,000 km of the epicentre, covering parts of Indonesia, the Philippines , and Malaysia . Waves were recorded at monitoring stations, with the highest around 0.75 metres above normal sea level in North Sulawesi and smaller wave heights seen in West Halmahera. Just over two hours later, authorities lifted the tsunami warning , saying the danger had passed.

Officials reported dozens of aftershocks following the main quake, including smaller tremors felt by residents, and urged people to stay alert as emergency teams began wider damage and safety assessments.

The disaster highlighted Indonesia’s location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a geologically active area where seismic activity is common due to the collision of major tectonic plates. Authorities have advised coastal communities to avoid returning to beaches until inspections confirm safety.

Rescue teams continued their efforts throughout the day, inspecting damage, assisting the injured and coordinating with local disaster agencies to ensure that residents in hard‑hit and remote areas receive necessary aid and updates.