Early Morning Earthquake Hits Indonesia, Richter Scale Records Tremor At 6.1

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Sulawesi Island in Indonesia on Wednesday.

Indonesia lies on the 'Pacific Ring of Fire' where tectonic plates collide (representative image of a seismograph reading)

Source : PTI

Indonesia Earthquake News: The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has reported that a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of North Sulawesi province in Indonesia on Wednesday. There is no information available yet about any damage caused by the earthquake. 

The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) at 6:55 AM local time (2255 GMT). The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika or BMKG) has confirmed this. They have also reported that there is no threat of a tsunami from the earthquake.

Why Is Indonesia Prone To Earthquakes

Indonesia is a vast archipelago located on the "Ring of Fire" of the Pacific Ocean. This is a highly active seismic belt where tectonic plates regularly collide, resulting in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Several devastating earthquakes have occurred in recent years.

In January 2021, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Sulawesi, killing over 100 people and leaving thousands homeless. In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Sulawesi, killed over 2,200 people.

Back in 2004, a massive 9.1-magnitude earthquake in the Aceh province triggered a huge tsunami that killed over 1,70,000 people in Indonesia alone.

Authorities Are Monitoring The Situation

While the recent earthquake has not caused any major damage in the country, Indonesian authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Residents in earthquake-affected areas have been instructed to remain vigilant and follow safety guidelines issued by domestic disaster management authorities. 

A woman, Gita Waloni, who was staying at a hotel in the North Minahasa district of the province, told news agency AFP, "I had just woken up when I felt the earthquake. It was very powerful. Things inside my rooms were shaking. I decided to go outside and even when I was in the lift, I felt the tremor. Everyone was trying to flee to safety."