BMKG: Early Tsunami Warning Following Earthquake in North Maluku Ends
The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics (BMKG) has ended the early tsunami warning following an earthquake in the Batang Dua Island area, Ternate, North Maluku, on Thursday, 2 April 2026. The early tsunami warning was issued at 05:48 WIB, shortly after the earthquake in the sea southeast of Bitung, North Sulawesi, occurred.
BMKG Head Teuku Faisal Fathani stated that the warning ended precisely at 09:56 WIB. “BMKG declares that the early tsunami warning has ended at 09:56 WIB. BMKG thanks the local governments for assisting in dissemination and promptly carrying out evacuation measures,” Faisal said in a BMKG press release on Thursday, 2 April 2026.
The morning earthquake was located at coordinates 1.25° North Latitude; 126.27° East Longitude, precisely in the sea 129 kilometres southeast of Bitung, North Sulawesi, at a depth of 33 kilometres.
According to Faisal, based on the epicentre location and depth, this earthquake is categorised as shallow due to subduction activity in the Maluku Sea. He stated that BMKG monitoring results indicate the earthquake had an upward movement mechanism or thrust fault.
Sea level rises were recorded in several areas, including West Halmahera at 06:08 WIB with a height of 0.30 m, Bitung at 06:15 WIB with 0.20 metres, Sidangoli at 06:16 WIB with 0.35 metres, North Minahasa at 06:18 WIB with 0.75 m, Belang at 06:36 WIB with 0.68 metres, and Bumbulan at 06:50 WIB with 0.13 metres.
BMKG Deputy for Geophysics Nelly Florida R explained that the earthquake impacted at least three provinces: North Maluku, North Sulawesi, and Gorontalo. In Ternate city, for example, the earthquake was felt strongly with intensity V-VI MMI.
“As a result, the vibrations were felt by all residents, causing panic and them to run outside, wall plaster to fall, factory chimneys to be damaged, and minor damage,” she said.
Additionally, almost all residents of Manado also felt the vibrations with intensity IV-V MMI, causing most of them to wake up. Meanwhile, vibrations in Gorontalo Bone Bolango and North Gorontalo were felt noticeably inside houses, like a truck passing by, with intensity III MMI.
“Up to 09:50 WIB, BMKG monitoring results show 48 aftershock activities with the largest magnitude M5.5,” said Nelly.
In general, preliminary data records that this event caused building damage at several points, such as at the KONI Sario Manado building and the Calvary Church on Batang Dua Island, Ternate City.
Although the early tsunami warning has ended, BMKG urges the public to ensure the safety and security of buildings before resuming activities. “If there are still damages or cracks, they need attention and one should not immediately enter the room,” said Fachri.