Earthquake Hits Indonesia’s Eastern Region
A magnitude-6.6 earthquake struck Indonesia’s eastern region on Tuesday, with no tsunami warning issued. The quake occurred off Halmahera island in North Maluku province at a depth of about 35 kilometers (22 miles).
Details of the Earthquake
- Magnitude: 6.6
- Location: Halmahera island, North Maluku province
- Time: 0948 GMT
- Depth: Approximately 35 kilometers
There have been no immediate reports of damage or injuries following the earthquake. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed that there is no tsunami threat in the Molucca Sea.
Indonesia’s Seismic Activity
Indonesia, as a vast archipelago nation, frequently experiences earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. This area is known for intense seismic activity resulting from tectonic plate collisions, spanning from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
The region has seen devastating earthquakes in the past, including a magnitude-6.2 quake in Sulawesi in January 2021 that claimed over 100 lives and displaced thousands. In 2018, a magnitude-7.5 quake and subsequent tsunami in Palu, Sulawesi, resulted in the loss of more than 2,200 lives. Furthermore, the 2004 magnitude-9.1 earthquake in Aceh province triggered a tsunami that led to the death of over 170,000 people in Indonesia.