Indonesia: Magnitude-6.0 offshore earthquake occurs off North Sulawesi Province at around 10:26 WITA Jan. 22

Event

A magnitude-6.0 offshore earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea off North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, at around 10:26 WITA Jan. 22. The epicenter was about 318 km (197 miles) northeast of Manado. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 23 km (14 miles), and moderate shaking was probably felt on the Talaud islands, while weak-to-light shaking could have occurred in parts of northern North Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces. Weak shaking may also have occurred in far southern Mindanao, Philippines. 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

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. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.