Indonesia: Magnitude-5.7 earthquake strikes in West Sulawesi Province at 1435 WITA Jan. 14

Event

A magnitude-5.7 earthquake struck West Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, at around 1435 WITA Jan. 14. The epicenter was in Majene Regency, south West Sulawesi Province, about 245 km (152 miles) north-northwest of Makassar, South Sulawesi Province. The tremblor struck at a depth of 18 km (11 miles). Light shaking probably occurred in West Sulawesi Province, while weak-to-light shaking may have occurred in South Sulawesi, southwest Central Sulawesi, and northwest Southeast Sulawesi provinces. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are possible over the coming days. Officials have not issued any tsunami warnings.

Authorities may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where strong shaking occurred. Monitor local media for updates and advisories from the authorities.