Jakarta (VNA) – A powerful earthquake struck off Indonesia’s eastern coast on April 2 morning, prompting the US Geological Survey (USGS) to issue a widespread tsunami warning as countries across the region closely monitored the situation.
The epicentre of the earthquake was about 120km from Ternate in Indonesia’s North Maluku province. The USGS said the quake, which was initially recorded at a magnitude of 7.8, struck at a depth of 35km, greater than the early figure of 10km.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) earlier said hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 1,000km of the epicentre along the coasts of Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.
Indonesian broadcaster Metro TV reported one person had died from falling rubble in the Manado area in North Sulawesi province, and videos show damaged buildings.
Indonesia straddles the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of high seismic activity where tectonic plates meet and earthquakes are frequent./.
