A powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Tuesday, killing at least one person, injuring dozens, and damaging homes and public infrastructure.
The tremor deeply rattled people in Palu, a city still scarred by a devastating earthquake and tsunami eight years ago.
The initial seismic event was centred about 43km east-southeast of Palu, with the US Geological Survey reporting a depth of about 10km. The intense shaking prompted people to rush into open spaces across Palu, home to around 400,000 people and the capital of Central Sulawesi province. Hospitals evacuated patients, some still on IV drips, as a safety precaution.
Four regencies near the epicentre with a combined population of 1.3 million were still being assessed for damage. A preliminary report indicated at least 312 individuals had been displaced.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency, confirmed one fatality and 38 injuries. He added that 13 people were seriously hurt in the hardest-hit Sigi regency and required to be hospitalised.
Mr Muhari said the tremor caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure, including 67 houses, six places of worship, four public facilities, two bridges, two government offices and three business premises. A section of a key provincial road connecting Palu with Sigi and Poso regencies was severed.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency recorded 71 aftershocks throughout the day, intensifying fears among people haunted by the 2018 disaster and prompting them to leave buildings and seek safety in open areas.
Coastal communities moved inland as a precautionary measure against a potential tsunami, though the agency confirmed no such danger, warning only of continued aftershocks.
“The shaking was extremely strong. We are still traumatised by the previous earthquake, so we chose to remain outside because we’re afraid the aftershocks may continue,” Muhtar Ahmad, a Palu resident, said.
Images from the affected region depicted significant structural damage, including partially collapsed roofs, shattered walls, and debris strewn across streets.
“We have evacuated all our guests from the hotel. They all panicked, which is a natural reaction during an earthquake, but everyone is safe,” Effendi Natali, manager of a four-star hotel in Palu, said.
The hotel sustained only minor damage.
Sulawesi’s people still carry the deep scars of the magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck Palu in 2018, triggering a 3m tsunami and liquefaction, which saw entire neighbourhoods swallowed by collapsing ground, killing over 4,000 people.
More recently, a 6.2 magnitude quake near Mamuju in January 2021 claimed at least 100 lives, forcing thousands to sleep outdoors.
Indonesia, a vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands, is highly susceptible to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines.
