Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake Hits North Maluku, Felt in Sulawesi

MANADO - A tectonic earthquake with a magnitude (M) of 6.2 shook the Doi Island area, North Maluku, on Friday, July 3 morning. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed that the earthquake had no potential to cause a tsunami, although the tremors were felt in North Sulawesi Province.

Based on official information from the BMKG, the earthquake occurred at 09.31 WIB. The epicenter was in the sea with coordinates 1.93 North latitude and 127.39 East longitude, or about 58 kilometers southwest of Doi Island, North Maluku.

BMKG also noted that the epicenter was located about 272 kilometers from Airmadidi Atas with a depth of 100 kilometers below sea level. This depth indicates that the earthquake is a medium-sized earthquake triggered by tectonic activity.

Although centered in the waters of North Maluku, the earthquake tremors were reported to have been felt by the public in a number of areas in North Sulawesi. Residents said they felt the shock for several seconds, which caused alertness.

Based on the analysis of BMKG and community reports, the earthquake tremors reached the northern coastal areas of Sulawesi. Until now, there have been no reports of significant impacts due to the tremors.

BMKG emphasized that the results of the analysis showed that this tectonic earthquake with a magnitude of 6.2 was not potentially a tsunami, both in the North Maluku and North Sulawesi regions.

However, the public is urged to remain calm and not be provoked by information that has not been confirmed to be true.

Until this news was released, there were no official reports from the local government or related agencies regarding the damage to buildings, infrastructure, or casualties due to the earthquake.

BMKG reminded the public to remain vigilant against the possibility of aftershocks that may occur after the main earthquake.

In addition, residents are asked to only access information from official sources, such as BMKG's websites, social media, and applications, and not easily trust information circulating on social media without verification.

BMKG will continue to monitor the development of seismic activity in the region and provide the latest information if there are significant changes in conditions or aftershocks.