Shallow Magnitude 5.0 Earthquake Shakes Sangihe, North Sulawesi

A tectonic earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 shook the Sulawesi Sea region near the Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday (10/6). The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported in a press release that the earthquake occurred at approximately 08.54 Western Indonesia Time (WIB). BMKG analysis indicates the earthquake had updated parameters with a magnitude of M5.0. The earthquake’s epicentre was located at coordinates 5.59° North Latitude and 125.28° East Longitude, precisely in the sea at a distance of 220 km northwest of Karatung Island, North Sulawesi, at a depth of 54 km. According to BMKG, considering the location of the epicentre and the depth of its hypocentre, the earthquake was a shallow type resulting from plate subduction activity. Source mechanism analysis shows the earthquake had an oblique thrust fault movement mechanism. Based on shakemap estimations, BMKG recorded the earthquake being felt at an intensity scale of III MMI in the Marore Islands, Sangihe Islands Regency, and Miangas, Talaud Islands Regency. The quake was also felt at an intensity scale of II-III MMI in Kendahe, Sangihe Islands Regency. BMKG stated that there have been no reports of damage caused by the earthquake so far, and modelling results show that this earthquake had no tsunami potential. This earthquake is part of an aftershock sequence from the M7.7 earthquake in Mindanao, Philippines, on Monday (8/6). Aftershocks ranging from magnitude 3.8 to 5.9 have continued to occur in Tahuna District, Sangihe Islands Regency, North Sulawesi. As of 09.10 WIB today, BMKG monitoring results have recorded 218 aftershock activities, with the largest recorded at M6.7.