A powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province on Tuesday, injuring at least eight people, damaging buildings, and triggering panic among residents still haunted by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the region in 2018.
The earthquake hit near the city of Palu, the provincial capital with a population of approximately 400,000 people. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake was centered about 43 kilometers east-southeast of Palu at a depth of 10 kilometers, making the shaking particularly intense across the region.
The strong tremor sent residents rushing into open spaces as buildings shook violently. Hospitals in and around Palu evacuated patients outdoors as a precaution, with some patients moved while still connected to intravenous drips.
According to Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, at least eight people were injured in the nearby Sigi regency and transported to hospital for treatment. Two of the victims reportedly sustained serious injuries. Authorities are continuing to assess the impact in three regencies near the epicenter, home to a combined population of roughly 1.2 million people.
Images from affected areas showed damaged homes and buildings, including collapsed roofs, cracked walls, and debris scattered across roads. The National Disaster Management Agency said teams were still gathering information on structural damage, casualties, and potential displacement of residents.
Several aftershocks followed the initial earthquake, including one measuring 5.2 magnitude, adding to fears among local communities.
“The earthquake shaking was extremely strong,” said Palu resident Muhtar Ahmad. “We are still traumatized by the previous earthquake, so we chose to remain outside because we are afraid that aftershocks may continue.”
Residents in coastal communities also moved away from shorelines amid concerns about a possible tsunami. However, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency confirmed that the quake did not generate a tsunami threat, though it warned that additional aftershocks remain possible.
The earthquake revived painful memories of the catastrophic 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Palu in September 2018. That disaster triggered a tsunami and widespread liquefaction, a phenomenon in which saturated soil loses stability and collapses. More than 4,000 people were killed, and entire neighborhoods were swallowed by the ground.
Indonesia is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, sitting along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Major earthquakes regularly affect the archipelago due to the movement of several tectonic plates beneath the region.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and assess the full extent of the damage as emergency response teams work across affected communities.
