A severe earthquake occurred off the coast of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The authorities issued a tsunami warning for the islands around the Molucca Sea.
April 2, 2026, 3:10 amApr 2, 2026, 3:14 am
According to the US Earthquake Observatory (USGS), the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.4 and occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 35 kilometers. The epicenter was between northern Sulawesi and the northern Moluccas, around 127 kilometers west-northwest of the city of Ternate.
The epicenter is between the Moluccas and Sulawesi.Google Maps
Smaller tidal waves expected
According to the US tsunami warning system, there was initially the possibility of tidal waves within a radius of up to 1,000 kilometers. Waves of 30 centimeters to one meter above normal levels were forecast for parts of the Indonesian coast. Coasts in the Philippines and Malaysia could also be affected, it was said. However, the risks were classified as low. According to the USGS, no fatalities are likely to be expected.
A fisherman on a beach in Sulawesi, Indonesia.Image: keystone
The Indonesian authorities initially reported the magnitude of the quake as 7.6. Initial measurements of the strength and depth of an earthquake often differ slightly and can later be corrected manually.
Memories of the 2004 disaster
The world’s largest island state, Indonesia, lies on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a particularly geologically active zone with numerous volcanoes and tectonic plates. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are therefore very common there. Natural disasters often occur, especially in Indonesia. On December 26, 2004, a huge undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 triggered a huge tidal wave off the coast of Sumatra. Around 230,000 people in numerous countries died. (sda/dpa)