A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Molucca Sea off Indonesia’s Ternate island early Thursday, killing at least one person.
The quake, which hit at 06:48 local time (22:48 GMT) at a depth of 35km, triggered tsunami warnings that were later lifted. A 70-year-old woman in North Sulawesi died from building debris, while another was injured.
Residents in Manado and Bitung reported intense shaking, with some describing it as the strongest in years. In Ternate, people fled in panic as buildings swayed.
Parts of Siloam Hospital in Manado were badly damaged. Search teams found rubble at a sports complex, and medical staff evacuated patients amid chaos.
Two aftershocks, measuring 5.5 and 5.2, followed the main quake. Authorities warn more could occur.
