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Tag: Indonesia breaking news

  • 6.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island, Injuring Several and Causing Damage

    6.7-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island, Injuring Several and Causing Damage

    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.

  • Deadly Mount Dukono Eruption Kills 3 Hikers as Rescue Operations Continue in Indonesia

    Deadly Mount Dukono Eruption Kills 3 Hikers as Rescue Operations Continue in Indonesia

    At least three hikers have been killed after a powerful eruption of Mount Dukono trapped climbers on a remote Indonesian island, authorities confirmed Friday.

    The deadly eruption occurred on Halmahera Island in Indonesia after approximately 20 hikers attempted to climb the active volcano despite strict safety restrictions already in place due to heightened volcanic activity.

    Officials said Mount Dukono erupted at about 7:41 a.m. local time on Thursday, sending a massive ash column nearly 10 kilometers into the sky. Indonesia’s Geological Agency reported that the eruption lasted more than 16 minutes and was one of the strongest volcanic explosions recorded at the mountain in recent weeks.

    Authorities confirmed that three men, including two Singaporean nationals and one Indonesian citizen, died during the eruption. Their bodies have not yet been recovered because ongoing eruptions, toxic volcanic gases, falling debris, and dangerous terrain continue to block rescue access to the area.

    Emergency rescue teams were dispatched after distress signals were received from stranded climbers on the mountain. By Friday afternoon, officials said 14 climbers, including several foreign nationals, had been safely evacuated, while five survivors were reported injured.

    Police said the hikers knowingly ignored government restrictions that banned climbing within a 2.5-mile radius of the crater due to the volcano’s high alert status.

    North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu stated that despite repeated warnings and danger notices around the site, some visitors continued attempting to climb the volcano, often motivated by creating online content for social media platforms.

    Mount Dukono is among Indonesia’s most active volcanoes and has been erupting almost continuously since 1933. Indonesian authorities revealed that volcanic activity sharply increased in late March, with nearly 200 eruptions recorded since March 30 and an average of around 95 eruptions daily.

    The government has also warned residents about possible secondary hazards, including volcanic mudflows triggered by heavy rainfall around the volcano’s slopes.

    Ash clouds from Friday’s eruption drifted northward toward nearby communities, including the town of Tobelo, raising concerns about public health risks, transportation disruptions, and reduced air quality.

    Indonesia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most seismically active regions, and is home to more than 120 active volcanoes.

    Officials continue to urge residents, tourists, and climbers to avoid restricted areas around Mount Dukono as monitoring efforts remain ongoing.