TREMOR. An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck Melonguane Sub-district in Talaud Islands District, North Sulawesi, in the early morning of Monday (Dec 4, 2023). There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the quake. (ANTARA)
JAKARTA – An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck Melonguane Sub-district in Talaud Islands District, North Sulawesi on Monday morning, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the quake.
The epicenter of the strong quake that occurred at 02:48 a.m. local time was about 960 km away from the sub-district at a depth of 132 km.
It was located at 12.61 degrees north latitude and 127.40 degrees east longitude, according to Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
The agency urged residents in affected areas to stay alert for aftershocks.
Earthquakes regularly rock various parts of Indonesia since the country lies on the Circum-Pacific Belt, also known as the Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates meet and cause frequent volcanic and seismic activities.
Talaud Islands have repeatedly been jolted by earthquakes.
On January 22, 2022, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake rocked southeast of Melonguane.
On Dec. 26, 2004, Indonesia recorded its deadliest earthquake at magnitude 9.4, followed by a tsunami.
The catastrophe that also affected certain coastal areas in countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India, reportedly killed some 230,000 people.
Deadly earthquakes have repeatedly hit the island of Sulawesi.
On September 28, 2018, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit several parts of Central Sulawesi Province.
The strong earthquake that was followed by a tsunami claimed 2,102 lives, injured 4,612, and rendered 680 others missing.
Serious damage was inflicted on 68,451 homes, resulting in the displacement of 78,994 people. (Antara)
