Indonesia: Magnitude-5.0 earthquake strikes in Molucca Sea, south of Sulawesi, Dec. 26

Event

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred in the Molucca Sea, south of Sulawesi Island, at around 1615 Dec. 26. The epicenter was around 175 km (108 miles) south of Tondano, North Sulawesi Province. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 55 km (34 miles), and weak-to-light shaking may have occurred throughout North Sulawesi Province and parts of eastern Gorontalo and North Maluku provinces. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties because of the earthquake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are possible over the coming days. The incident did not prompt 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 unless authorities discover damage. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions.