Magnitude 5.9 earthquake in Manado triggered by activity of the Maluku Sea Plate

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that rock deformation activity within the Maluku Sea Plate has triggered a tectonic earthquake of magnitude 5.9 that shook the city of Manado and its surrounding areas on Friday morning. BMKG’s Director of Earthquakes and Tsunamis, Wijayanto, in Jakarta, said the event occurred at 08:05:09 WIB and that modelling results indicate the earthquake is not capable of generating a tsunami. The earthquake’s epicentre lies at 1.17° N, 126.14° E, or precisely located at sea 117 kilometres southeast of Bitung City, North Sulawesi, at a depth of 38 kilometres. Wijayanto explained that, considering the epicenter location and hypocentral depth, the quake is a shallow-type event. The source mechanism analysis shows that the fault structure has an oblique thrust movement. Based on shake intensity reports, the quake was felt strongly in the Batang Dua Island area with intensity III-IV MMI, where during the day vibrations were felt by many people inside their homes. The tremor extended to Sofifi, West Halmahera, Tidore, and Manado City with intensity II-III MMI, consisting of vibrations clearly felt inside homes as if a large truck were passing by. By around 08:20 WIB, BMKG monitoring did not show any signs of aftershocks. Nevertheless, BMKG urged residents in surrounding areas to stay calm, avoid buildings that are cracked or damaged by the tremor, and not to be influenced by unverified information.