A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Northern Molucca Sea near the city of Ternate in Indonesia, leaving at least one person dead and briefly triggering a tsunami warning that was later lifted.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred on Thursday at a depth of about 35 km, after initially being recorded at a higher magnitude and shallower depth. The epicentre was located roughly 120 km from Ternate in North Maluku province.
Authorities in nearby areas, including Ternate and Tidore, advised residents to stay alert and prepare for possible evacuation. Local media visuals showed some structural damage in affected regions.
In North Sulawesi’s Manado city, one person lost their life after a building collapsed. A rescue official confirmed that the victim was trapped under debris, while another individual suffered a leg injury.
“The quake was felt strongly and around Manado … one person died and one person had a leg injury,” George Leo Mercy Randang said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) had initially warned of possible hazardous waves along coastlines within 1,000 km of the epicentre, including parts of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
Small tsunami waves were later recorded in parts of North Sulawesi and North Maluku, but the warning was lifted approximately two hours after the earthquake, with officials confirming that the threat had passed.
Indonesia lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent earthquakes due to active tectonic plate movements.
Disclaimer: This content is rewritten for informational purposes. The original report was published by Al Jazeera and can be accessed here: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/4/1/magnitude-7-4-quake-hits-off-indonesias-ternate-tsunami-warning-triggered
