A powerful earthquake struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island on Wednesday morning. The earthquake measured 6.2 on the Richter scale. The tremors, which occurred in the early hours of local time, caused panic among residents, leading many to rush out of their homes.
Jakarta: A powerful earthquake struck the island nation of Indonesia in Southeast Asia on Wednesday morning. According to the country's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the earthquake registered a magnitude of 6.2 on the Richter scale. The tremors were felt in the northern coastal region of Sulawesi island during local morning hours. Reassuringly, no tsunami warning was issued following the earthquake.
Earthquake Epicenter
According to BMKG, the earthquake's epicenter was located offshore, near the northern coast of Sulawesi island. The tremors were b enough to cause people in surrounding areas to evacuate their homes. Initial reports indicate no damage or casualties. Local authorities are monitoring the situation, and emergency teams have been kept on standby.
This is the second most powerful earthquake recorded in Indonesia in recent days. Last week, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Banda Sea near the Maluku Islands, at a depth of approximately 137 kilometers. At that time too, BMKG did not issue any tsunami warning. The continuous tremors have increased public concern, although experts state that the region is seismically active, and such tremors are common here.
No Tsunami Threat
Typically, when earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or higher occur in this region, the likelihood of a tsunami increases. However, BMKG clarified that given the depth and direction of this earthquake, large waves are unlikely to be generated in the sea. The agency urged people not to pay attention to rumors and to obtain information only from official sources.
A BMKG spokesperson stated, "We have placed all monitoring centers on alert, but based on current data, there is no tsunami threat. So far, no major damage or casualties have been reported." Indonesia is one of the world's most seismically active countries. It is situated on the "Ring of Fire" in the Pacific Ocean — a region where several major tectonic plates of Earth meet and collide.
Beneath Indonesia lie massive tectonic plates such as the Indo-Australian Plate, the Eurasian Plate, and the Pacific Plate. Due to the continuous movement and collision of these plates, small and large earthquakes frequently occur here. This is why countries like Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines repeatedly experience tremors in this "Ring of Fire" zone.
Indonesia has faced several destructive earthquakes in the past. In 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake near the Sumatra coast generated a devastating tsunami, which caused approximately 230,000 deaths across several countries in the Indian Ocean. Subsequently, in 2018, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Palu city in Sulawesi province, leading to widespread destruction.
