Photo credit: BBC
Indonesian authorities lifted the tsunami warning that was issued after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country early on Thursday.
The Independent reports that the tremor at 6.48 am local time set off small tsunami waves, killed at least one person, and damaged houses and buildings, according to officials. The warning was lifted after authorities earlier said waves were possible along the coasts of Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
The tremor, initially measured at 7.8, hit the Molucca Sea near the centre of the archipelago, according to the US Geological Survey.
Tsunami waves were recorded at several monitoring stations less than half an hour later, including in Bitung with a height of 20cm and in West Halmahera with a height of 30cm, according to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Honolulu said waves of 5cm were recorded in Davao in southern Philippines, but there was no threat for more distant areas about three hours after the quake.
The epicentre of Thursday’s earthquake was located about 120km from the city of Ternate, which has a population of more than 205,000.
