Indonesia: Magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurs in northern Central Sulawesi Province Feb. 14

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred in northern Central Sulawesi Province at around 14:02 Feb. 14. The epicenter was about 201 km (125 miles) northeast of Palu. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 102 km (63 miles), and moderate shaking was likely felt near the epicenter, and light shaking was probably felt in the rest of Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo provinces. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake, and significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

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

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