Massive 7.8 Earthquake Strikes Indonesia – Live Updates, Damage Report & Tsunami Warning

Eastern Indonesia rocked by powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake; brief tsunami alerts issued Jakarta, 2 April 2026 – A major 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck beneath the Maluku Sea at 07:48 local time, rattling North Sulawesi and North Maluku, toppling buildings and prompting short-lived tsunami warnings across eastern Indonesia. Key details • Epicentre: 25 km south-west of Pulau Mayu Island, depth 35 km, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) and Indonesia’s BMKG. • Casualties: At least one fatality and several injuries were reported in Manado after a building collapsed; damage assessments continue in Bitung and Ternate. • Tsunami: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center recorded waves up to 0.75 m on parts of North Sulawesi’s coast before cancelling alerts less than two hours later. • Aftershocks: A 6.2 quake and a string of 5.7-5.0 events have rattled the same zone, keeping residents on edge. What residents experienced Witnesses described intense shaking lasting 15–20 seconds. Thousands fled homes, schools and markets, gathering on higher ground until authorities confirmed the tsunami threat had passed. “All that mattered was getting my children to safety,” said Manado street-vendor Siti Rohayati. Infrastructure impact Preliminary surveys show cracked roads, damaged churches and power outages in parts of Ternate and Bitung. Engineers are inspecting critical bridges on the Trans-Sulawesi highway, while flights at Sam Ratulangi Airport remain normal. Why the region is vulnerable The Maluku Sea sits on the volatile boundary where the Philippine Sea Plate converges with several micro-plates, producing frequent megathrust quakes and destructive tsunamis. Today’s shock released energy equivalent to roughly two million tons of TNT, underscoring Indonesia’s position atop the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. Safety tips for future shocks 1. Drop, Cover, Hold On during shaking. 2. Keep a “go-bag” with water, medication and flashlight near exits. 3. After coastal tremors, immediately head to ground at least 30 m above sea level until officials give the all-clear. 4. Install the free BMKG or Volcanic-Earthquake alert apps for real-time warnings. Global seismic uptick Worldwide monitoring logged one M7+, two M6+ and seventeen M5+ earthquakes in the past 24 hours, marking a “very high” activity level for April 2. SEO keywords: Indonesia earthquake today, 7.4 magnitude earthquake, Maluku Sea quake 2026, earthquake and tsunami warning North Sulawesi, Manado earthquake latest updates