The earthquake was centered in the Maluku Sea, with a magnitude of 7.0 (updated), at a depth of 71 kilometers (km).
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that a 7.1-magnitude (M) earthquake, which was later updated to 7.0M, in the Maluku Sea on Wednesday afternoon had no potential to trigger a tsunami.

The shocks from the quake were sensed at a maximum intensity of IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale in Melonguane sub-district, Talaud Islands District, North Sulawesi Province, Head of the BMKG’s Center for Earthquake and Tsunami Daryono informed here on Wednesday.

"The earthquake was centered in the Maluku Sea, with a magnitude of 7.0 (updated), at a depth of 71 kilometers (km)…There was no warning for a potential tsunami," he said.

The earthquake occurred at 1:06 p.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB) at 2.80 degrees north latitude (LU) and 127.11 degrees east longitude (BT), or precisely in Maluku Sea, 141 km southeast of Melonguane Sub-district.

The tremors were also felt in the Talaud, Sangihe Islands, Sitaro Islands regions of North Sulawesi at level III-IV on the MMI scale.

Meanwhile, residents of Minahasa, Manado, North Minahasa, Southeast Minahasa, South Minahasa, Bitung, Tomohon, Bolaang Mongondow, East Bolaang Mongondow, and South Bolaang Mongondow regions in North Sulawesi sensed the shocks at level III on the MMI scale.

Residents of Ternate, Sofifi, East Halmahera, West Halmahera, and North Halmahera in North Maluku province also felt the vibrations at level III on the MMI scale.

In addition, the quake was felt in Gorontalo City, Gorontalo Province, at MMI level II.

MMI II scale shocks can cause light, hanging objects to sway, while vibrations on MMI III scale feel similar to a truck passing close by.

Meanwhile, MMI IV scale tremors can cause pottery to break, windows and doors to creak, and cause walls to make noise.

Not long after the M7.0 quake, the BMKG recorded a shallow 5.3M earthquake in the nearby area at 1:19 p.m. WIB.

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Translator: Devi Ramadhan, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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