‘Jalanan aspal sampai bergoyang’ – Gempa 7,6 guncang Sulawesi Utara dan Maluku Utara

A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake, centered in the waters off Bitung, North Sulawesi, and North Maluku, struck on Thursday, April 2, at 05:48 AM Western Indonesian Time (WIB). The tremors were widely felt by residents across a vast area, from Bitung and Manado in North Sulawesi all the way to Ternate in North Maluku. Tragically, the seismic event has already resulted in one fatality and another injury in Manado, where a person was caught beneath collapsing building debris, according to the Search and Rescue (SAR) team.

Residents in Manado described the terrifying intensity of the quake. “The asphalt roads were swaying vigorously; it was incredibly strong,” recounted Isvara Safitri, a resident of Teling Atas, Manado, in a phone interview with BBC News Indonesia. She added, “My head felt so dizzy.” Various furnishings in her room, including a wardrobe, swayed for several seconds. Safitri also reported hearing a distinct “rumbling sound,” though she couldn’t identify its source.

Immediately after the shaking subsided, Safitri, a journalist by profession, sought safety outside her home. She observed numerous residents in her neighborhood, many of whom “appeared panicked.” Fortunately, no buildings near her residence sustained damage. Safitri’s home is situated in central Manado, approximately one kilometer from a stadium that reportedly collapsed due to the quake. “This feels like the strongest earthquake I’ve experienced in my six years living in Manado,” she noted, underscoring the severity of the event. The powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake had its epicenter in the sea southeast of Bitung City, North Sulawesi, occurring at 05:48 AM WIB on Thursday, April 2. Updated data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) pinpoints the epicenter at coordinates 1.25 North Latitude and 126.25 East Longitude, with a depth of 62 kilometers.

In Bitung, North Sulawesi, panic also gripped residents who rushed out of their homes as strong tremors rocked the area around 7:00 AM Central Indonesian Time (WITA) on Thursday morning. Yayuk Oktiani, 42, shared her experience, stating that she was shopping at a market after dropping her child off at school when the ground began to shake, with the intensity steadily increasing. “People at the market immediately ran out, and some shops lost power. We held hands; many were terrified,” she told BBC News Indonesia via telephone. Yayuk’s immediate concern was for her child, who attends MIN 1 Bitung, a school located very close to the coast. Shortly after the initial quake, teachers messaged parents in their school group, advising them to pick up their children. Upon arrival, Yayuk found students already evacuated to an outdoor area, under the watchful eyes of their teachers. “Because of the coastal location and BMKG issuing a standby alert, everyone was worried,” she explained. Following the significant earthquake, residents in coastal areas began moving to higher ground for safety. Yayuk highlighted North Sulawesi’s vulnerability to disasters, noting that her residential area is equipped with evacuation signs for both sea and hill-based threats. “I hope everyone stays safe,” she wished.

Further reports from Ternate, North Maluku, indicate that several buildings sustained damage from the magnitude 7.6 earthquake, according to Basarnas Ternate. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported in the city thus far. “There are several homes and places of worship that have suffered damage,” stated Icshan, Public Relations for Basarnas Ternate, to BBC News Indonesia on Thursday, April 2. The damage ranges from severe to light. Basarnas Ternate has received reports detailing affected areas, including Batan 2 Island, as well as central and southern Ternate City. Additionally, earthquake-related building damage was reported in West and Central Halmahera.

According to BNPB, the main tremor was intensely felt for 10 to 20 seconds in Bitung City and its surrounding areas. Residents of Ternate City, North Maluku, also reported significant shaking, leading to widespread panic and people rushing out of their homes, BNPB confirmed. By 07:00 AM WIB, two significant aftershocks had been recorded: a magnitude 5.5 earthquake at 06:07 AM WIB and a magnitude 5.2 earthquake at 06:12 AM WIB. Both aftershocks were sea-centered and did not pose a tsunami threat, yet they were still distinctly felt by communities in the affected regions. Early impact assessments by BNPB revealed light to moderate damage in Ternate City. Specifically, one place of worship (a church) in Batang Dua Island District and two houses in Ganbesi Village, South Ternate District, were reported damaged. Meanwhile, local disaster management agencies (BPBD) in Bitung City continue to collect data on the impact.

Monitoring by the early warning system detected small tsunami waves, approximately 0.3 meters high, in West Halmahera at 06:08 AM WIB and 0.2 meters high in Bitung at 06:15 AM WIB. Abdul Muhari, Head of BNPB’s Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center, emphasized the need for continued vigilance despite the relatively small wave heights, as the potential for subsequent waves remains. In light of this, BNPB urged coastal residents to stay away from beaches and refrain from returning to vulnerable areas until an official safety declaration is issued by the government. Muhari also called on the public to remain calm, follow directions from local authorities, and avoid spreading unverified information. Monitoring efforts and information updates will proceed continuously as the situation on the ground develops. The tectonic magnitude 7.6 earthquake, which jolted the sea area southeast of Bitung City, North Sulawesi, on Thursday, April 2, at 05:48 AM WIB, had its updated epicenter at coordinates 1.25 North Latitude and 126.25 East Longitude, at a depth of 62 kilometers.

This news will be updated periodically.

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