Massive earthquake of 7.4 magnitude earthquake jolts Indonesia, one killed
PTC News Desk: A massive earthquake of 7.4 magnitude on the Richter scale struck Indonesia early Thursday at 06:48 local time, triggering tsunami warnings across the region.
However later the tsunami warning was lifted. “Based on all available data… the tsunami threat from this earthquake has now passed,” the website quoted the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
The earthquake’s epicentre was about 120 km (74.5 miles) from Ternate, a city of over 205,000 people. According to the US Geological Survey, the tremor—first estimated at magnitude 7.8—struck the Molucca Sea in central Indonesia and lasted nearly 10 seconds.
Within half an hour, tsunami waves were recorded at several monitoring stations. Indonesia’s meteorology agency reported waves of 20 cm (8 inches) in Bitung and 30 cm (around a foot) in West Halmahera. In the southern Philippines, waves of about 5 cm (2 inches) were observed in Davao. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu later said there was no broader threat about three hours after the quake.
- With inputs from agencies
