A 7.3-magnitude earthquake has jolted South Halmahera regency in North Maluku. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at 4:10 p.m. Jakarta time or 6:10 p.m. local time, 102 kilometers north-northeast of Laiwui in South Halmahera, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said there was no tsunami potential detected because of the earthquake. It has also recorded several aftershocks. Meanwhile, the BMKG reported at 5:04 p.m. Jakarta time, there was a 5.2-magnitude earthquake with an epicenter at 61 kilometers southwestern off Biak Numfor regency in Papua.
Based on official information from the South Halmahera Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the quake was mostly felt in the regency for two to five seconds, prompting people to panic and rush out of their homes.
