By Divyanshi Sinha
Residents across Eastern Indonesia are beginning the arduous task of clearing debris after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Northern Molucca Sea early Thursday. The quake, centered approximately 120km from the city of Ternate, sent panicked citizens fleeing to higher ground as tsunami sirens echoed across coastal provinces.
Early reports confirm at least one fatality and dozens of injuries, with numerous buildings—including schools and local government offices—suffering significant structural damage. Indonesia’s meteorology agency, BMKG, initially issued a tsunami warning for North Maluku and North Sulawesi after sea-level changes were detected. However, the alert was lifted four hours later as the threat of a major wave subsided.
The tremors were felt as far away as the southern Philippines and parts of northern Australia, prompting regional disaster centers in Sri Lanka and Malaysia to monitor their own coastlines. While the immediate threat of a tsunami has passed, officials have warned of strong aftershocks. "The earth is still moving," a local disaster official said, urging residents to remain vigilant and avoid damaged structures. This latest disaster adds to a difficult week for Indonesia, which is also mourning the loss of three of its citizens serving as UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, further straining the nation's emergency response resources and public morale.
