Earthquake near Ternate in Indonesia: Northern Indonesia earthquake
A major 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Northern Molucca Sea near Ternate, Indonesia, on April 2, 2026, at around 22:48 UTC (about 4:18 AM IST). The epicenter was roughly 127 km northwest of Ternate at a shallow depth of 35 km, prompting tsunami warnings for Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
Key Details
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USGS recorded the quake at magnitude 7.4, though initial reports varied from 7.6 to 7.8 before revision.
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It occurred at a shallow depth, increasing potential for strong shaking in the seismically active North Maluku region.
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Tsunami warnings were issued due to possible waves up to 1 meter in coastal areas, but alerts were later brief or lifted in some updates.
One death was reported following the tremor, amid widespread panic and evacuations near Ternate, a city with over 200,000 residents. Small tsunami waves (0.3m high) hit parts of North Maluku, with no major widespread damage confirmed yet in early reports. The event is developing, with aftershocks possible given the region’s history.
