7.4 Magnitude Quake Hits Molucca Sea Near Indonesia

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Molucca Sea northeast of Indonesia early Thursday local time, prompting tsunami warnings for parts of the region, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The quake occurred at 6:48 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located 127 kilometers west-northwest of Ternate in North Maluku province. The tremor registered at a shallow depth of 35 kilometers, a factor that can amplify shaking on nearby land. Ternate, the nearest major city with a population exceeding 200,000, lies on a small island west of the larger Halmahera island. No immediate reports of casualties or significant damage emerged, though residents in nearby areas felt strong shaking.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued an alert for possible hazardous waves within 1,000 kilometers of the epicenter, affecting coastlines in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. Officials estimated waves of 0.3 to 1 meter above tide level along portions of Indonesia's shoreline, while smaller surges under 30 centimeters were forecast for areas including Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Taiwan. Japan's meteorological agency anticipated minor sea...