Indonesia earthquake: Major 7.4 magnitude tremor strikes near North Maluku coast; authorities lift tsunami alert

(Jakarta) Indonesia: A strong 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of North Maluku province in eastern Indonesia early Friday, seismologists said, with the US tsunami warning centre saying a tsunami was not expected. [caption id=“attachment_5035301” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AP/Agus Fitrah[/caption] The quake hit 140 kilometres (87 miles) northwest of the coastal town of Ternate at a depth of 45 km, according to the US Geological Survey. The US tsunami warning centre said a “destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected.” The Indonesian meteorological and climatology agency, however, warned people to stay clear of beaches as a precaution. The quake was felt strongly in Ternate at 1.17 am local time (1617 GMT), sending sleeping residents fleeing their houses. Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide. On September, 2018, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island killed more than 2,200, with 1,000 more declared missing. On 26 December, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck Aceh province, causing a tsunami and killing more than 1,70,000 in Indonesia.