JAKARTA - A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the waters off Bitung on Thursday, April 2, at 05:48:16 WIB (06:48 WITA). The coastal city where roughly 230,000 resides sits in the border area between North Sulawesi and North Maluku, Indonesia. 

Indonesia’s meteorology and geophysics agency BMKG recorded the epicenter at coordinates 1.25°N, 126.27°E, at a depth of 62 kilometers. The quake killed a 70-year-old woman and injured another in Manado, as announced by Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB).

Nuriadin Gumeleng, spokesperson for Basarnas North Sulawesi, confirmed the toll in Manado on Thursday. “One victim who died after being hit by debris has been taken to the hospital, while the other suffered a broken leg after jumping from a shop,” he said. Basarnas said it was still gathering information on whether there were additional victims elsewhere.

BMKG issued a tsunami early warning for North Maluku and North Sulawesi shortly after the quake. Muhammad Zulkifli, Head of Data and Information at BMKG’s Manado Geophysics Station, said seven areas across North Maluku and North Sulawesi were placed on tsunami alert. The warning has since been lifted.

Teuku Faisal Fathani, the head of the agency, said the earthquake resulted from deformation of the Earth’s crust caused by Maluku Sea subduction activity. “The analysis of the source mechanism shows that the earthquake had a thrust fault mechanism,” he said. 

Director of Earthquake and Tsunami Information Rahmat Riyono, speaking at a press conference on Thursday, described the quake as a megathrust event originating from Maluku Sea subduction into North Sulawesi territory, with a thrust fault mechanism that carries high tsunami potential.

The agency also confirmed it recorded tsunami waves in two areas following the quake. BMKG noted the quake was initially reported at magnitude 7.3 with an 18-kilometer depth before being updated to the final reading of magnitude 7.6 at 62 kilometers depth.

“The public is also asked to remain calm, follow the directions of local authorities, and refrain from spreading unverified information. Monitoring and information updates will continue to be conducted as the situation on the ground evolves,” said Abdul Muhari, BNPB’s head of disaster data.

*This is a developing story. *