Magnitude 7.4 quake hits off Indonesia’s Ternate, tsunami warning triggered

The ​epicentre of the ⁠earthquake was about ⁠120km (75 miles) from Ternate, in Indonesia’s North Maluku ‌province.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake has hit the ⁠Northern Molucca Sea off the coast of the city of ⁠Ternate, in eastern Indonesia, triggering a tsunami warning for nearby islands.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said Thursday’s quake, which was initially recorded at a magnitude of 7.8, struck at a depth of 35km (22 miles), greater than the early figure of 10km (six miles). There were no immediate reports of injuries.

The epicentre of the ⁠earthquake was about ⁠120km (75 miles) from Ternate, in Indonesia’s North Maluku ‌province.

Local authorities in some cities, such as Ternate and Tidore, were urged to prepare citizens for evacuation, while news channel Metro TV broadcast images of damaged buildings.

According to the US Tsunami Warning System, dangerous ⁠tsunami waves were possible ⁠within 1,000km (621 miles) of the epicentre along the coasts of Indonesia, the Philippines ⁠and Malaysia.

Waves of height ranging from 0.3 metres to 1 metre (0.98 feet to 3.28 feet) above the tide level could hit some coastal areas of Indonesia, ⁠the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

It also warned of the risk of waves less than 0.3 ⁠metres over tide levels for the coasts ⁠of Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Taiwan.
Japan may see waves of up to 0.2 metres (eight inches), but no damage is expected, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, as ‌it warned a tsunami could occur in the Pacific.

Indonesia straddles the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of high seismic activity where tectonic plates ‌meet ‌and earthquakes are frequen