Indonesia: A magnitude-5.8 offshore earthquake occurs in the Molucca Sea at around 19:21 April 21

Event

A magnitude-5.8 earthquake occurred in the Molucca Sea at 19:21 WIT April 21. The epicenter was about 217 km (135 miles) north-northwest of Ternate. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 60 km (37 miles), and shaking was probably felt throughout eastern North Sulawesi and most of the North Maluku islands. 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 likely 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.