BMKG detects tsunami waves up to 18 cm in North Sulawesi and North Maluku

The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) has confirmed that minor tsunami waves, ranging from 9 to 18 centimetres, have been recorded at three observation locations following a 7.7 magnitude tectonic earthquake in the Celebes Sea.

BMKG Deputy for Geophysics, Nelly Florida Riama, stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday that the three coastal areas detecting these waves are Ulu Siau (North Sulawesi), Melonguane (North Sulawesi), and one monitoring point in North Maluku.

Although the wave anomalies currently arriving are considered small, BMKG has requested that communities in the affected areas do not lower their vigilance and continue to follow existing evacuation directives. Based on previously released tsunami modelling estimates, the potential peak wave heights in several coastal areas are projected to reach ‘Alert’ to ‘Warning’ status.

Consequently, Nelly urged all members of the public and local governments to continuously monitor regular updates on sea wave data through the institution’s official channels. “We ask the entire community to continue monitoring or following the information provided by BMKG because, according to the modelling, there are several areas that will be on alert, with tsunami heights ranging between Alert and Warning levels,” she said.

BMKG, alongside several relevant agencies, is currently conducting strict real-time monitoring of tide gauge data and other tsunami monitoring sensors to ensure the safety of the northern and eastern coasts of Indonesia. The early tsunami warning was officially announced by BMKG less than 10 minutes after the 7.7 magnitude tectonic earthquake struck the Celebes Sea on Monday morning at 06:37 WIB, with the earthquake epicentre located at a depth of 47 kilometres northwest of Karatung Island, North Sulawesi (Mindanao sector, Philippines).