26-2-2025 (JAKARTA ) A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of North Sulawesi, Indonesia, early Wednesday (Feb 26), sending residents rushing out of their homes in fear. Authorities confirmed there were no reports of damage or casualties.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the tremor occurred at 6:55 AM local time, with its epicentre located offshore at a depth of 10 kilometres. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) recorded a slightly lower magnitude of 6.0 but assured the public that the quake posed no tsunami threat.
Residents in North Sulawesi described moments of panic as the tremors shook buildings. Gita Waloni, a 25-year-old hotel guest in North Minahasa district, said she had just woken up when she felt the earthquake. “It was strong, swaying from side to side,” she said. “Objects in my room started rattling. I immediately rushed out, fearing an aftershock. Many other guests also evacuated.”
Indonesia, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, is frequently struck by earthquakes due to the movement of multiple tectonic plates. The country has suffered several deadly quakes in recent years. In January 2021, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake in Sulawesi killed more than 100 people and displaced thousands. In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami in the city of Palu, claiming over 2,200 lives. The most catastrophic event occurred in 2004, when a 9.1-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Aceh province unleashed a tsunami that killed more than 170,000 people in Indonesia alone.
