RRI.CO.ID, Manado - A powerful earthquake struck eastern Indonesia on Thursday morning, April 2, 2026, damaging the interior of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish Church in Rumengkor Village, Tombulu Subdistrict, Minahasa, North Sulawesi.

Coordinator of church assets and development, Guido Merung, explained the condition of the building after the incident and assured that repairs were being carried out immediately. “We are currently preparing for the Maundy Thursday service tonight at 8 p.m. local time,” Guido said in Manado, as quoted by Antara.

He noted that the affected area had been cleaned to ensure worship could proceed without disruption. “Only the ceiling plaster fell, while the framework remains intact,” Guido said.

The collapse occurred in the center of the church, directly above the long benches typically used by the congregation. “The ceiling above the altar remains intact,” he added.

Church officials confirmed that the Holy Triduum services, beginning with Maundy Thursday and continuing through Good Friday and Easter Sunday, will proceed as scheduled. The parish, which can accommodate around 800 worshippers, has issued safety advisories to congregants.

“This week is especially important for Christians and Catholics as it marks the Holy Week, beginning with Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. We continue to urge the congregation to remain cautious and rely on official information from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG),” Guido said.

BMKG reported that the earthquake struck at 5:48 a.m. local time with a magnitude of 7.6. The epicenter was located in the sea, approximately 129 kilometers southeast of Bitung City, North Sulawesi, at a depth of 62 kilometers.

Despite the damage, church leaders emphasized that worship services would continue, underscoring the resilience of the community during one of the most sacred weeks in the Christian calendar. ***