A 6.7 magnitude earthquake shakes part of Indonesia, killing at least 1, causing damage and injuries
The first quake was centered on land, about 43 kilometers (27 miles) east-southeast of Palu, and the U.S. Geological Survey said it was at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles).
The severe shaking forced people in and around Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province, a city of about 400,000 people, to flee to open areas. Some hospitals evacuated patients, some with IV drips, outdoors as a safety precaution.
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Four regions (total population 1.3 million) close to the epicenter have not yet been fully assessed. The preliminary report stated that at least 312 people were displaced due to the strong earthquake. Additionally, according to National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Abdul Muhari, one person died and 38 others were injured and taken to a nearby hospital; Among them were 13 people who were seriously injured in the hardest-hit Sigi regency.
He said that the earthquake also caused major damage to buildings and infrastructure, including 67 houses, 6 places of worship, 4 public facilities, 2 bridges, 2 government office buildings and 3 workplaces. A section of the provincial road connecting the city of Palu and its neighboring districts Sigi and Poso was cut.
The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency also noted that at least 71 aftershocks continued throughout the day; This has raised concerns among residents who are shaken by memories of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit the region in 2018. Aftershocks caused residents to flee buildings and gather in open areas. People also moved away from coastal areas as a precaution against the possibility of the earthquake causing a tsunami. The agency warned that there was no danger of a tsunami, but aftershocks may continue.
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“The earthquake shaking was extremely strong,” said Palu Mukhtar Ahmad. “We are still experiencing the trauma of the previous earthquake, so we chose to stay outside because we were afraid of continuing aftershocks.”
Images taken from the area show heavily damaged structures with their roofs partially collapsed, walls torn apart, and rubble scattered on the streets.
Efendi Natali, general manager of a 4-star hotel in Palu, said, “We evacuated all our guests from the hotel, including some guests staying in their rooms.”
“They all panicked, which is a natural reaction during an earthquake, but everyone is safe.” Natali said, adding that the hotel suffered only minor damage.
Many Sulawesi residents are haunted by the 7.5-magnitude earthquake that devastated Palu in 2018, causing a 3-meter (10-foot) high tsunami and a phenomenon called liquefaction, in which land collapses in on itself. More than 4,000 people were killed, including many who were buried, as the falling earth swallowed entire neighborhoods.
At least 100 people died in the 6.2 magnitude earthquake that occurred near the city of Mamuju on the island of Sulawesi in January 2021, and thousands of people slept outside for days for fear of aftershocks.
Indonesia, a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its location on the “Ring of Fire”, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin.
