A powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Tuesday, injuring at least eight people, damaging buildings and triggering panic among residents still haunted by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the region in 2018.
The tremor shook Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, prompting residents to rush into open spaces for safety. Hospitals in the city also moved patients, including those receiving intravenous treatment, outside as a precaution.
Authorities said at least eight people were injured in Sigi regency, with two suffering serious injuries. Rescue officials noted that full assessments of the affected areas near the epicenter, home to around 1.2 million people, were still underway.
Photographs from the region showed damaged houses and buildings, including collapsed roofs, cracked walls and debris strewn across roads. Disaster management officials said they were continuing to collect information on the extent of damage, casualties and possible displacement.
Hotel manager Effendi Natali said all guests at his four-star hotel in Palu were safely evacuated after the quake.
“People panicked, which is understandable during such a strong earthquake, but everyone is safe,” he said, adding that the hotel sustained only minor damage.
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake’s epicenter was located about 43 kilometres southeast of Palu at a depth of roughly 10 kilometres. Several aftershocks followed, the strongest measuring 5.2 in magnitude.
Fearing a possible tsunami, many residents moved away from coastal areas immediately after the quake. However, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency later confirmed there was no tsunami threat, although aftershocks could continue.
Residents said memories of the catastrophic 2018 earthquake and tsunami remain fresh.
“The shaking was very intense,” said Palu resident Muhtar Ahmad. “Many of us are still traumatised by the previous disaster, so we stayed outside because we feared more aftershocks.”
Indonesia, located along the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its position atop multiple tectonic fault lines.
The region is still recovering from the 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck Palu in 2018, triggering a tsunami and widespread liquefaction that killed more than 4,000 people.
Another major quake measuring 6.2 magnitude hit Sulawesi in January 2021, killing at least 100 people and forcing thousands to spend days outdoors amid fears of further tremors.