Tsunami Warning Issued After Powerful Earthquake Hits Indonesia's Ternate Island

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Northern Molucca Sea near Indonesia's Ternate island, prompting a tsunami warning in Southeast Asia. The quake, initially reported as 7.8 magnitude, triggered potential tsunami threats for neighboring countries. Regional authorities urged evacuations as buildings were reportedly damaged.

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Northern Molucca Sea, off the coast of Indonesia's historic spice island, Ternate, on Thursday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The seismic event triggered a tsunami warning across Southeast Asian nations.

With no immediate reports of injuries, aftershocks reaching a magnitude of 5 were nonetheless recorded. In response, Indonesia issued tsunami warnings for its provinces of North Maluku and North Sulawesi. Regional governments in Ternate and Tidore were urged to prepare citizens for potential evacuations, as news outlets broadcast images depicting building damages.

The earthquake, initially estimated at a magnitude of 7.8, struck at a depth of 35 km, approximately 120 km from Ternate city, which contains a population exceeding 200,000. Tsunami warning authorities highlighted the risk of hazardous waves along the coasts of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia, while Japan's Meteorological Agency, noting waves up to 0.2 meters, stated that no substantial damage was expected.