A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Maluku Sea on Thursday, April 2, at 06:48 WITA, sending intense tremors across North Sulawesi and North Maluku. The seismic event tragically triggered a localized tsunami, with waves reported under one meter in height at several points, while also causing fatalities and significant damage to various facilities.
kumparan has compiled a comprehensive overview of the immediate aftermath and ongoing impacts of this devastating quake.
One Resident Dies in Manado, Another Suffers Broken Leg
The severe tectonic earthquake resulted in two casualties in Manado, as confirmed by Nuriadin Gumeleng, spokesperson for Basarnas North Sulawesi. One victim tragically died after being struck by falling debris and has since been transported to a hospital. Separately, another individual sustained a broken leg attempting to escape the tremor by jumping from a shop building.
Identity of Deceased Victim in North Sulawesi-North Maluku 7.6M Earthquake Revealed
Further details emerged regarding the fatality in Manado, identifying the victim as 70-year-old Deice Lahia, a female resident of Tateli, Minahasa Regency. Ms. Lahia succumbed to injuries sustained from the collapse of debris at the damaged KONI Manado building. Nuraidin Gumeleng confirmed her identity, noting that Deice Lahia was the sister of former North Sulawesi boxer Ilham Lahia, whose family operated a business near the affected KONI complex.
Ternate Students Sent Home Early Following Earthquake Panic
In Ternate, the earthquake unleashed widespread panic, particularly among residents in coastal areas. Hasby, a Ternate resident contacted by kumparan, recounted, “When the earthquake happened, mothers on the coast here panicked, running due to the strong tremors.” Consequently, all students from elementary to high school in Ternate City were dismissed earlier than usual, a precautionary measure taken amidst fears of potential aftershocks. Despite the initial alarm, Hasby reported that Ternate City and its coastal regions have, thus far, remained safe from any significant impacts, including tsunami threats or structural damage.
North Maluku Public Works Office Sustains Damage: All Windows Shattered
The powerful seismic event also left its mark on infrastructure, with the Ministry of Public Works (PUPR) office in North Maluku suffering considerable damage. PUPR Minister Dody Hanggodo reported that numerous windows throughout the office building were shattered. “Our office in North Maluku, all its windows shattered,” Dody stated. In response, employees at the National Road Hall North Maluku are currently working from home, adhering to directives from the local BMKG and BPBD agencies while assessments continue.
President Prabowo Orders BNPB Head to North Sulawesi-North Maluku for Direct Impact Assessment
In a swift response to the disaster, President Prabowo Subianto promptly ordered the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to deploy its personnel to the earthquake-affected regions of North Sulawesi and North Maluku. Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, Head of BNPB, confirmed the directive during a press conference at the BNPB Office in East Jakarta, stating, “This morning, as soon as the disaster occurred, we reported to him [Prabowo], and he immediately ordered us, specifically me, the Head of BNPB, to depart.” Suharyanto will lead a team from BNPB, accompanied by officials from BMKG and Basarnas. Specifically, he will head to North Sulawesi, while Major General TNI Lukmansyah, Deputy 3 for Emergency Handling, will proceed to North Maluku. The deployment will also include basic necessities and logistics for affected residents, and shelters, clothing, and clean water are being prepared, although no official evacuation reports have been received yet.
BNPB Urges Local Governments to Immediately Assess Earthquake Impact in North Sulawesi-North Maluku
Building on the central government’s efforts, Suharyanto further called upon local governments in the earthquake-stricken areas of North Sulawesi and North Maluku to conduct immediate assessments of their respective territories. This crucial step, Suharyanto explained at the BNPB Office, aims to facilitate the declaration of an emergency response status if necessary. “If the Regional Head, Forkopimda there, estimates that this cannot be overcome at the regency/city level, for example, then please immediately establish an emergency status,” he urged. Should two regencies or cities declare an emergency response, the status can then be elevated to a provincial level. Regardless of the declared status, Suharyanto assured that the central government stands ready to support the affected regions and will provide maximum assistance.
93 Aftershocks Recorded, Largest Reaching Magnitude 6
The seismic activity in the region continued with a significant number of aftershocks. As of Thursday at 12:00 WITA, the BMKG reported a total of 93 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 5.5 to 6. Teuku Faisal Fathoni, Head of BMKG, highlighted this data during the BNPB press conference, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance for the next few days. He further projected that this trend of aftershocks could potentially persist for another one to two weeks, underscoring the ongoing risk to the affected communities.
Summary
A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Maluku Sea on Thursday, April 2, at 06:48 WITA, causing intense tremors across North Sulawesi and North Maluku. This seismic event tragically triggered a localized tsunami with waves under one meter and resulted in two casualties in Manado: one fatality from falling debris and another individual sustaining a broken leg. The quake also led to widespread panic in Ternate, prompting schools to dismiss students early, and caused significant damage, including shattered windows at the North Maluku Public Works office.
In response, President Prabowo Subianto swiftly ordered the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to deploy a team to North Sulawesi and North Maluku for direct impact assessment and to provide aid. BNPB urged local governments to immediately assess the damage and declare an emergency status if necessary, assuring central government support. As of Thursday 12:00 WITA, 93 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 5.5 to 6 were recorded, with BMKG predicting continued seismic activity for days, possibly up to two weeks.