Ternate Residents Briefly Panic Upon Seeing Sudden Sea Recede
Dozens of residents on Batang Dua Island in Ternate City panicked and fled to higher ground to save themselves after witnessing the sea suddenly recede following a magnitude 7.6 earthquake on Thursday, 2 April 2026, around 07:48 WIT.
Simon Larasei, 49, a resident of Mayau Village, said that the residents were initially going about their normal morning activities. Many were gathered at the beach due to a boat schedule. Several residents wanted to board motorboats to cross to a ship anchored not far from the village. The panic ensued after the earthquake shook Batang Dua and the sea receded abruptly.
“Seeing the sea recede suddenly, the residents immediately scattered and ran to higher areas. Many left their belongings on the beach before boarding the boats,” Simon told Tempo on Thursday, 2 April 2026.
According to Simon, when the earthquake occurred, many residents were outside their homes and at the beach. They simply stood still during the quake. However, the panic began when the sea receded suddenly afterwards, and several people shouted warnings about a possible tsunami. “That’s when many people ran to save themselves. I ran too,” Simon stated.
Yonce Tumbel, 45, a resident of Lembeh Island in Bitung, North Sulawesi, who happened to be on Batang Dua Island in Ternate City, described how the residents’ panic started after shouts about the sudden sea recede post-earthquake. Many beachgoers fled to higher ground.
“I was also at the beach. I ran too after being told about the sudden sea recede. I saw many residents running to higher areas,” Yonce revealed.
Rizal Marsaloy, Secretary of Ternate City, stated that based on information from the BMKG, they hoped the public, especially those in coastal areas, would remain alert and follow official instructions from the local government and relevant authorities. Residents were asked to stay away from the shoreline for the time being.
“We also ask residents not to panic, to stay vigilant, and not to be swayed by unverified information,” Rizal told Tempo on Thursday, 2 April 2026.
Earlier, the magnitude 7.6 earthquake shook Ternate and Tidore. The epicentre was located at coordinates 1.25 North Latitude – 126.27 East Longitude with a depth of 62 kilometres, briefly causing panic among residents. The quake was reported to be felt in Ternate City, Tidore Islands City, Sofifi City in North Maluku, and Bitung, Manado, and Minahasa in North Sulawesi.