Sulawesi and Maluku Earthquakes Today: Prabowo Emphasises Public Safety as Top Priority
President Prabowo Subianto has called for public safety to be the utmost priority in handling the earthquake disasters in North Sulawesi and North Maluku. The earthquake today (2 April) was reported to have a magnitude of 7.6.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno stated the importance of data collection on victims and affected infrastructure from the North Sulawesi and Maluku earthquakes.
“As per the President’s directive, the rescue of the public is the topmost priority,” said Pratikno in Jakarta on Thursday (2 April).
He explained that data collection is crucial in post-disaster management to enable quick evacuations and targeted distribution of aid.
In addition, for the North Sulawesi and Manado earthquakes, the search and evacuation of victims must be carried out as quickly as possible, he emphasised. This should be followed by rehabilitation and reconstruction processes.
Pratikno urged local governments to ensure that developments do not create new disaster risks for the public. He gave the example that buildings not meeting standards could lead to disasters.
“Do not let developments cause flooding, do not let developments pose risks to the public, for example because the building structures do not meet standards,” said Pratikno.
The magnitude 7.6 earthquake, centred in the sea about 129 kilometres southeast of Bitung City (North Sulawesi), was detected at a depth of 33 kilometres.
The North Sulawesi and Maluku earthquakes were caused by crustal deformation activity with an upward movement mechanism (thrust fault).
President Prabowo Subianto has instructed BNPB and Basarnas to immediately send aid to the site of the magnitude 7.6 earthquake in North Maluku and North Sulawesi.
One resident was found lifeless amid the rubble of the Koni Building at Sario sports field in Manado City, North Sulawesi, following the magnitude 7.6 Manado earthquake.
The Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) has lifted the early tsunami warning after the magnitude 7.6 earthquake in North Maluku. There was a temporary rise in sea levels, and 48 aftershocks were detected.
A tectonic earthquake of magnitude 6.2 shook the Yalimo region in the Papua Mountains Province on Friday (27 March 2026).
A shallow magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck the Konawe Islands in Southeast Sulawesi on Thursday (26 March). Strong tremors were felt as far as Kendari and South Konawe, triggered by activity along the Tolo Thrust Fault.