In brief
In a shocking turn of events, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the Molucca Sea near Indonesia's Ternate island, resulting in one death and multiple injuries. The quake triggered tsunami warnings, which were lifted shortly after. Residents experienced chaotic scenes as they evacuated buildings and reported significant shaking. This earthquake is noted as one of the strongest felt in the region in recent years, emphasizing the area's seismic activity.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck in the Molucca Sea off Indonesia's Ternate island early Thursday, killing at least one person.
The quake, which struck at 06:48 local time (22:48 GMT) at a depth of 35km, sparked tsunami warnings which have since been withdrawn.
A 70-year-old woman in North Sulawesi died after being crushed by building debris, and another person broke their leg after jumping off a building, Indonesia's national news agency Antara reported.
While the region experiences high levels of seismic activity, some residents told the BBC this was one of the strongest earthquakes they have felt in at least the past six years.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned that tsunami waves less than 0.3m (1 ft) were possible along the coasts of Guam, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Taiwan. The tsunami alert was lifted after two hours.
Journalist Isvara Safitri, who lives in central Manado, recalled how furniture in her room shook for several seconds.
It was really strong... My head even felt dizzy, Safitri told BBC Indonesian.
Even the roads outside the house were shaking, she said, adding that the earthquake feels like the strongest she's experienced over the past six years.
Yayuk Oktiani, who lives in Bitung, a city on the north-eastern coast of Sulawesi, said she often experiences tremors, but they're never as strong as this one.
Oktiani was at the market when everything started shaking. Several stores experienced power outages and as the tremors got stronger, people fled.
In Ternate, resident Budi Nurgianto said the walls in his house vibrated for what felt like more than a minute. He rushed outside, into a scene of panic.
At least two aftershocks, with magnitudes 5.5 and 5.2, followed the major quake, with authorities warning of more to come.
Footage from a search and rescue team in Manado shows residents and officials walking through the rubble at a sports complex, with some shouting oh my God. Large pieces of furniture were flung onto the ground, with some metallic structures bent out of shape.
The situation was chaotic, according to a patient at Siloam Hospital in Manado, who recalled frantic efforts to evacuate staff and patients.
