JAKARTA 2 April 2026 (The Capital Post) – A powerful earthquake struck eastern Indonesia early Thursday, damaging buildings and triggering small tsunami waves across several coastal areas, authorities reported.
The quake, measured at around magnitude 7.4 to 7.6, occurred in the Northern Molucca Sea at a depth of about 35 kilometres, according to seismic monitoring agencies. The tremor caused panic in several communities as strong shaking was felt across parts of North Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed that tsunami waves were detected at multiple monitoring stations shortly after the earthquake. The highest wave reached about 0.75 metres in North Minahasa, while smaller waves were recorded in other coastal locations including Bitung and West Halmahera.
Emergency officials reported that several houses and buildings sustained damage due to the strong tremors, while rescue teams began assessing affected areas to determine the full extent of destruction. Authorities also confirmed that at least one person was killed after being struck by falling debris during the quake.
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BMKG said at least 11 aftershocks were recorded following the main quake, the strongest measuring magnitude 5.5. Officials warned residents to remain cautious and stay away from coastal areas until it was confirmed that there was no further tsunami risk.
Indonesia, which sits along the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire”, frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity due to tectonic plate movements in the region.-The Capital Post