BMKG Records 93 Aftershocks Following M7.6 Earthquake in Bitung

The Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) reported 93 aftershocks following a magnitude 7.6 earthquake that shook the sea southeast of Bitung City on Thursday, 2 April 2026. This number was recorded up to 12:00 WIB. BMKG Head Teuku Faisal Fathani stated that the aftershocks varied in strength, from magnitude 2.8 to 5.8. “With magnitudes from 2.8 to 5.8, and seven of these quakes were felt,” Faisal said during an online coordination meeting on earthquake response on Thursday, 2 April 2026. He predicted that aftershocks could still occur in the coming days. “Usually after one or two days, the trend will be studied to see if it can end in one week, sometimes two weeks. This depends on the situation there,” he explained. Faisal urged the public to remain vigilant. He reminded that in some cases, aftershocks can be stronger than the main quake. “We are continuously monitoring this at the BMKG Multi-Hazard Early Warning System office in Kemayoran,” he said. The main earthquake occurred on Thursday morning around 05:48 WIB. The shaking was felt very strongly for 10 to 20 seconds in Bitung, North Sulawesi, and surrounding areas. Vibrations were also strongly felt in Ternate City, North Maluku, causing residents to panic and rush out of their homes. After the earthquake, BMKG issued an early tsunami warning for North Sulawesi and North Maluku until 10:00 WIB. Several areas such as Ternate, Halmahera, and Tidore in North Maluku; and Bitung in North Sulawesi, were on alert status, while other areas were on standby. The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reported one fatality from the earthquake. Head of the Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Centre of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Abdul Muhari, said the victim was found in building rubble. “One resident was found lifeless in the rubble of the KONI Building at Sario Sports Field, Manado City, and has been evacuated,” he stated in a written release on Thursday. Meanwhile, BNPB Head Suharyanto requested that local governments in North Sulawesi and North Maluku immediately declare a post-earthquake emergency status. He explained that declaring this status is necessary so that assistance from the central government can be channelled quickly, accurately, and accountably to affected residents. “I request that all impacted regencies and cities declare an emergency status,” Suharyanto said during an online coordination meeting on the North Sulawesi-North Maluku earthquake response on Thursday, 2 April 2026.