RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - A powerful earthquake struck the seas off eastern Indonesia early Thursday, April 2, 2026, generating small tsunami waves and sparking panic among residents in several coastal areas of North Sulawesi and North Maluku.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that the 7.6-magnitude tectonic quake occurred southeast of Bitung City, North Sulawesi, at 5:48 a.m. local time.

The epicenter was located at 1.25° North Latitude and 126.27° East Longitude, with a depth of 62 kilometers. The tremor prompted early tsunami warnings across multiple regions.

“Although the waves were relatively small, vigilance is still required as aftershocks remain possible,” said Abdul Muhari, head of BNPB’s Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center, in Jakarta on Thursday, as quoted by Antara.

The early warning system recorded waves of about 0.3 meters in West Halmahera, North Maluku, at 6:08 a.m., and 0.2 meters in Bitung at 6:15 a.m. Residents in Bitung felt strong shaking for 10 to 20 seconds, while tremors were also felt in Ternate, North Maluku, prompting spontaneous evacuations.

BNPB reported initial damage in Ternate, including a worship facility in Pulau Batang Dua subdistrict and two houses in Ganbesi, South Ternate. Local disaster agencies in Bitung were still assessing the impact as of Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed that the quake was caused by the subduction of the Molucca Sea plate. “Analysis indicates a source mechanism involving uplift,” said BMKG head Teuku Faisal Fathani.

BMKG recorded 48 aftershocks by 9:50 a.m., with magnitudes ranging from 3 to 5.5. Two of these were felt by residents. “Aftershock activity is a natural process of energy adjustment following the main earthquake,” Faisal explained.

Authorities urged residents in coastal areas of North Sulawesi and North Maluku to stay away from the shoreline until official clearance is given. The public was also advised to remain calm, follow instructions from local officials, and avoid spreading unverified information.

BNPB and BMKG confirmed that monitoring continues intensively through the national seismic network, with updates to be provided regularly. ***