A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Ternate island on Thursday, killing one person and damaging buildings, according to officials. The quake, which occurred at a depth of 35km, prompted a regional tsunami warning that was later lifted.
The United States Geological Survey reported the epicentre was 127km west-north-west of Ternate in North Maluku province. Strong shaking lasting 10 to 20 seconds was felt in Bitung and Ternate cities, the Indonesian disaster management agency (BNPB) said.
Tsunami waves up to 0.75 metres were recorded in five locations, with the highest in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi. A 70-year-old woman died in North Sulawesi's Minahasa district, and another person was injured. BNPB reported minor to moderate damage to buildings in Ternate, including a church and two houses.
The US tsunami warning system initially warned of hazardous waves within 1,000km of the epicentre, but confirmed the threat had passed about two hours after the quake. Japan, the Philippines and Australia reported no tsunami threat to their territories.
Indonesia, located on the Pacific 'ring of fire', is prone to earthquakes. The quake was initially recorded at magnitude 7.8 before being revised down. Authorities urged coastal residents to remain vigilant and avoid returning to beaches until deemed safe.
