1 dead as 7.6-magnitude quake hits eastern Indonesia

JAKARTA - A woman was found dead after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Maluku region of eastern Indonesia early Thursday morning, according to a local search and rescue team.

The victim, a 70-year-old resident of Minahasa regency in North Sulawesi, was killed after being struck by collapsing building debris during the quake, said the local search and rescue team in Manado, the capital city of North Sulawesi.

The country's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said in a statement on Thursday morning that the strong earthquake struck the waters southeast of Bitung City, North Sulawesi. Very strong shaking was felt for 10 to 20 seconds in Bitung and the surrounding areas.

The BNPB said two aftershocks centered at sea have also been recorded, adding that preliminary impact data indicate light to moderate damage in Ternate.

The tremors have sparked panic as residents rushed out of their homes. Images and videos posted on social media showed significant structural damage, with collapsed ceilings littering the ground and building frames visibly distorted.

The country's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency said the earthquake had the potential to trigger a tsunami in North Maluku and North Sulawesi, issuing early warning alerts with "alert" and "caution" status.

Local governments have been urged to direct residents to evacuate, while people living in coastal areas were advised to stay away from beaches and riverbanks and follow official instructions.