Major Earthquake Rocks Sulawesi
I have been saying for some time now that all these earthquakes occurring in Indonesia are only a build up to a larger and more volatile quake/tsunami, something on the scale of Krakatau. Yeah I know, I’m putting myself out on a limb here making such a bold prediction. I hope it never happens.
But, the earthquakes around the archipelago are increasing in strength and something has to ‘give’ on the tectonic plates in a big way. When this is going to happen is anybody’s guess. Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago, is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. It is where the continental plates meet causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
Here’s the latest news from AFP:
A major undersea earthquake has rocked Indonesia’s northern Sulawesi province, but there were no immediate reports of any casualties or serious damage.
The 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck at 7:27 pm local time and was centred about 50 kilometres under the sea, 160 kilometres southeast of the North Sulawesi capital of Manado.
Indonesia’s meteorology agency reported that five aftershocks followed within one hour of the initial quake.
The strongest, a 5.5-magnitude quake, struck 18 minutes after the initial shock. A second aftershock had a magnitude of 5.1 and struck 17 minutes later.
Another strong quake, of magnitude 6.1, hit the area at 1:32 am,
the US Geological Survey (USGS) said, but there was also no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The latest quake, which struck 10 kilometres under the sea, hit 123 kilometres northwest of Ternate, on the Moluccas islands, according to the USGS.
Tsunami fears dismissed
After the first series of quakes, the agency said there was no risk of a tsunami after earlier warning that it was a possibility.
“After one hour we called the port authority in Manado and there was no rise in sea level. Therefore we cancel the possibility of tsunami taking place,” said Arif from Indonesia’s meteorology agency .
Hendarso, an officer at the National Disaster Coordination Center, said no serious casualties and only superficial damage were reported in Manado.
Quake sparks panic
The private Metro television station said the earthquake sparked panic in the city, causing some traffic accidents as people took to the streets to head for higher ground.
The Detikcom online news service also reported that people were fleeing to higher ground fearing a tsunami. It said they headed mostly to the Winangun area on the hills south of city, carrying anything they could.
The ElShinta radio station reported that power in Manado was cut off, but Detikcom said power remained in some parts, although the telephone network was not functioning.
Metro television said the earthquake was also felt in Ternate, in North Maluku province, across the Maluku Sea from Manado, where tsunami fears also sparked a panic rush to the Gamalama mountain.
The Indonesian archipelago sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates meet, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
Indonesia was the nation worst hit by the earthquake-triggered Asian tsunami in December 2004, which killed some 168,000 people in Aceh province.
SOURCE: AFP