Daijiworld Media Network – Jakarta

Jakarta, Jun 16: A powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island on Tuesday, triggering strong aftershocks and causing panic among residents, officials said.

The quake caused intense shaking for more than a minute in and around Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, which has a population of about 400,000.

Authorities reported scattered damage in several areas, while hospitals evacuated patients, including some receiving intravenous treatment, as a precautionary measure.

There were no immediate reports of fatalities or serious injuries.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake was centred about 43 kilometres east-southeast of Palu at a depth of approximately 10 kilometres.

The strongest aftershock recorded measured 5.2 on the Richter scale.

Officials confirmed that the earthquake did not pose a tsunami threat.

Indonesia, located along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to the interaction of several tectonic plates.

The latest tremor revived memories of the devastating 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Palu in 2018. The disaster triggered a tsunami with waves reaching up to three metres in height and caused widespread liquefaction, a phenomenon in which water-saturated soil loses strength and collapses.

More than 4,000 people were killed in the 2018 catastrophe, many of them buried when entire neighbourhoods were swallowed by collapsing ground.

Sulawesi was again hit by a major earthquake in January 2021, when a 6.2-magnitude tremor near Mamuju claimed at least 100 lives and forced thousands of residents to spend days outdoors fearing further aftershocks.

Authorities are continuing to assess the impact of Tuesday's earthquake, while residents remain on alert amid concerns over additional tremors.