Maluku Sea Active Zone, Experts Warn of Local Tsunami Potential After M7.3 Earthquake

An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale shook the Maluku Sea on Thursday morning (2/4), once again underscoring the high tectonic activity in the region. This area is known as one of the most complex and active zones in the world due to its unique geological characteristics.

Daryono, a member of the National Earthquake Study Centre, explained that the Maluku Sea is not just ordinary waters. This region lies within a double subduction system that creates extraordinary tectonic pressure.

According to Daryono, the tectonic conditions in the Maluku Sea are triggered by plates being squeezed from two directions. This causes the accumulation of vast energy, which is often released in the form of earthquakes with a thrust fault mechanism.

“The Maluku Sea zone is known to be unique because it is in a double subduction system. This condition creates extraordinary pressure that is often released in the form of earthquakes with a thrust fault mechanism. It is this mechanism that is the main trigger for tsunamis because it can suddenly lift the seabed,” said Daryono on Thursday (2/4).

History records that the Maluku Sea region has repeatedly been hit by tsunamis, most of them on a local to medium scale. Daryono emphasised that although tsunamis in the Maluku Sea are generally small to medium in scale, their local nature makes them extremely dangerous. This is because the distance between the earthquake source and coastal settlements is very close.

“Many coastal areas and small islands are very close to the earthquake source, so the tsunami arrival time could be just minutes without much opportunity for early warnings,” he stressed.

In addition to vertical seabed deformation from the M7.3 earthquake, other potential triggers such as underwater landslides must also be watched. The steep seabed characteristics in this region can trigger mass soil movement when shaken by a strong earthquake.

“The Maluku Sea region may not be as famous as the Sumatra megathrust zone for large tsunamis, but it remains active and highly risky. Vigilance is the key,” Daryono concluded. Residents in coastal areas are urged to remain alert to the potential for local tsunamis that could arrive shortly after the earthquake is felt.