14 Apr 2021 | 01:09 AM UTC
Indonesia: Magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurs in the Molucca Sea, offshore of North Sulawesi Province, April 14
Magnitude-5.1 earthquake occurs offshore of North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, at 09:25 April 14. No immediate reports of damage, injuries.
Event
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake occurred in the Molucca Sea, southeast of North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, at 09:25 WIT April 14. The epicenter was about 164 km (102 miles) south-southeast of Tondano. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 48 km (30 miles). Light shaking was probably felt in parts of North Sulawesi, eastern Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo, and western North Maluku provinces. There have been no reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Moderate 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 officials find no 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.
