STRONG 7.6-MAGNITUDE QUAKE HITS OFF NORTH SULAWESI, TSUNAMI DETECTED

JAKARTA, April 2 (Bernama) -- A strong 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck waters off Bitung, North Sulawesi, early Thursday, with tsunami waves detected in parts of eastern Indonesia.

According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the quake occurred at 6.48 am local time with its epicentre located at sea, at 1.25 degrees north latitude and 126.27 degrees east longitude, at a depth of 62 kilometres.

Based on sea level observations from their website, BMKG reported tsunami waves of up to 0.3 metres in West Halmahera and 0.2 metres in Bitung.

The agency also issued tsunami alerts for several areas, placing parts of North Maluku and North Sulawesi, including Ternate, Halmahera and Bitung, under the “Siaga” (alert) status, while other areas were placed under the “Waspada” (advisory) status.

BMKG advised local authorities in alert areas to prepare for evacuation, while those in advisory zones were urged to keep people away from coastal and riverbank areas.

Meanwhile, the tremor was strongly felt in Manado, where shaking lasted for more than a minute and prompted residents to rush out of their homes to avoid possible harm, according to reports by ANTARA News Agency.

ANTARA reported that a resident, identified as Deysi, described the quake as very strong, with loud noises heard from household furniture inside her home in Malalayang.

Another resident, Fanli, an online driver, said he briefly stopped his vehicle after feeling the tremor, citing concerns over swaying power poles and the risk of falling objects.

-- BERNAMA