Earthquake Today: A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Indonesia early Thursday, killing at least one person, triggering a brief tsunami alert and sending residents fleeing into the streets in panic. The warning was lifted within hours, but the tremor underscored the region’s enduring seismic vulnerability.

Strong Quake Jolts Molucca Sea Region, hit Eastern Indonesia According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 35 kilometres in the Molucca Sea, between the Sulawesi and Maluku island groups. The intensity of the tremor was felt widely across northern Indonesia, with strong shaking reported in urban centres.

In Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, the quake caused structural damage, including the collapse of at least one building.

Casualty Reported in Indonesia as Buildings Collapse Local authorities confirmed one fatality linked to the disaster.

"The quake was felt strongly and around Manado... one person died and one person had a leg injury," said George Leo Mercy Randang, a search and rescue official, speaking by telephone.

The victim was "buried under the rubble" of a collapsed building, he added.

Tsunami Warning Issued and Later Withdrawn The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned that hazardous waves could impact coastal regions within 1,000 kilometres of the epicentre, including parts of Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Within 30 minutes of the quake, waves measuring up to 75 centimetres were recorded in North Minahasa, while 20-centimetre waves were observed in Bitung. In North Maluku, waves reached around 30 centimetres.

However, just over two hours later, the agency confirmed that the tsunami threat “has now passed,” allowing authorities to stand down emergency alerts.

Residents Describe Panic and Prolonged Tremors Eyewitness accounts captured the fear and confusion that followed the quake.

"The quake was felt strongly. I heard it first from the walls of the house that shook," said Budi Nurgianto, a resident of Ternate.

"When I went outside, there were many people outside. They were panicked. The quake was felt (for) quite long, more than a minute."

"I even saw some people leaving their house without having finished their shower."

An AFP journalist in Manado reported similar scenes.

"I immediately woke up and left my house. People (were) immediately scrambling outside. There is a school and the pupils rushed outside," he said.

He added that the shaking lasted “quite long” but observed no widespread destruction.

Aftershocks Follow Initial Tremor Indonesia’s meteorological agency, BMKG, reported at least 11 aftershocks, the strongest registering a magnitude of 5.5. Authorities continue to monitor seismic activity in the region amid concerns over further tremors.

Regional Alerts but No Wider Tsunami Threat While initial projections suggested waves of up to one metre could reach parts of Indonesia, neighbouring countries including Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia did not issue tsunami warnings.

Japan’s meteorological agency noted only “slight changes” in sea levels along its Pacific coastline.

Seismic Risk in the Pacific Ring of Fire Indonesia lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, a geologically active zone where tectonic plates meet, making it one of the most earthquake-prone regions in the world.