JAKARTA/TERNATE — On April 2, 2026, a powerful earthquake struck the Maluku Sea off the coast of eastern Indonesia, triggering strong tremors across the region and prompting brief tsunami warnings.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the seismic event at a magnitude of 7.4, updating initial estimates of 7.8. The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) recorded the magnitude as 7.3. The epicenter was located approximately 126 kilometers off the city of Ternate, with a focal depth of 35 kilometers.
Impact and Structural Damage The intense tremors were felt heavily across neighboring islands, particularly in the city of Manado in North Sulawesi. Early reports from local authorities confirm at least one fatality in Manado due to a collapsed structure, alongside several injuries. In Ternate and the surrounding areas, over a hundred buildings have reportedly sustained minor to moderate structural damage.
Tsunami Threat and Aftershocks Immediately following the mainshock, BMKG issued a tsunami alert for the surrounding coastal areas. Minor waves, measuring up to 75 centimeters, were observed along certain coastlines. Authorities have since lifted the tsunami warning as the immediate threat has passed.
The region remains highly active, with seismologists recording over 130 aftershocks in the hours following the initial quake. Some of these secondary tremors have reached magnitudes up to 6.2, complicating initial rescue and damage assessment operations.
[…] do these specific earthquakes cause tsunamis? Because the April 20 quake was a shallow submarine megathrust event, the sudden […]