A powerful undersea earthquake struck Indonesian waters on Thursday, April 2, 2026, causing at least one death and triggering small tsunami waves. The quake also resulted in damage to homes and buildings across the region, according to officials.

Earthquake Details and Tsunami Waves

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake’s magnitude as 7.4, with an epicenter located in the Molucca Sea at a depth of 35 kilometers. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency recorded tsunami waves shortly after the quake.

Tsunami Measurements

  • Bitung: 20 centimeters
  • West Halmahera: 30 centimeters
  • Davao, Philippines: 5 centimeters

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu indicated that the threat to more distant areas had subsided approximately three hours after the earthquake.

Impact and Damage Assessment

Strong shaking, lasting between 10 and 20 seconds, was felt in Bitung, a coastal city in North Sulawesi province, and Ternate city in North Maluku province. Initial assessments revealed light to moderate damage in parts of Ternate.

Reported Damage

Local disaster officials in Ternate reported damage to one church on Batang Dua Island and two houses in South Ternate. Damage assessments are ongoing in Bitung.

Casualties and Response

Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency confirmed the death of a 70-year-old woman in North Sulawesi’s Minahasa district, with another resident sustaining injuries. Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for the Disaster Management Agency, urged caution for coastal communities.

“At this stage, caution is still required, particularly for communities living along the coast,” Muhari stated. He advised residents to avoid returning to beaches and coastal areas until an official all-clear is issued.

Aftershocks and Resident Accounts

Two aftershocks were recorded following the main quake, both occurring offshore. Officials confirmed that these aftershocks did not pose a tsunami threat, though they were felt in affected areas. Marten Mandagi, a resident of Bitung, described the strong shaking.

“We had just woken up and suddenly the earthquake hit... we all ran out of the house,” Mandagi said. “The shaking was very strong,” he added, noting that he had not observed any damage in his immediate area. “We’re still checking whether there is damage or not. But here we are safe, there are no casualties or destruction.”

Indonesia’s Seismic Activity

Indonesia, an archipelago of over 280 million people, is situated on major seismic faults and experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.