Indonesia: Magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurs off northern Maluku Province at around 15:53 Dec. 7

Event

A magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurred in the Ceram Sea off Maluku Province at around 15:53 Dec. 7. The epicenter was about 215 km (133 miles) east of Amahai. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 30 km (19 miles), and weak-to-light shaking was probably felt in parts of northern Maluku and southwestern West Papua provinces. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials 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, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.