BNPB Urges Residents to Avoid Coastal Areas Following M 7.7 Earthquake in Celebes Sea

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has urged communities across five coastal regions to avoid beach areas and remain calm following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the Celebes Sea. The affected coastal regions include North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, North Maluku, and East Kalimantan.

The agency advised local governments and residents in areas under ‘Alert’ status to maintain high levels of preparedness. “People in alert areas should immediately move away from coastal areas and riverbanks, and temporarily cease all activities in the waters,” a spokesperson stated.

Currently, the situation on the ground is reported to be safe, calm, and under control. Joint teams from the Regional Disaster Management Agencies (BPBD) in each region are conducting regular monitoring to assess any post-earthquake impacts and ensure coastal safety. The BNPB is also strengthening coordinated efforts with various agencies, including the BPBD, TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces), Polri (National Police), Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency), as well as humanitarian organisations and disaster relief volunteers.

“We urge the public not to panic, to prioritise the safety of vulnerable groups—such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, and children—and to always follow official instructions from inter-agency officers monitoring the situation,” the spokesperson added.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Celebes Sea on Monday morning at 07:37 WITA. The earthquake originated at a depth of 47 kilometres northwest of Karatung Island, North Sulawesi (Mindanao sector, Philippines), and carried the potential to trigger tsunami waves in several Indonesian coastal regions.