PALU, Indonesia — A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province on Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring dozens, according to Indonesian disaster authorities, while causing damage to homes, public buildings and infrastructure across several districts.
The earthquake hit inland near the city of Palu at a depth of about 10 kilometers (6 miles), according to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the U.S. Geological Survey. BMKG said the epicenter was located roughly 42 kilometers (26 miles) southeast of Palu. Authorities said there was no tsunami threat.
Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said one person was killed in Sigi regency. The agency also reported dozens of injuries and damage to residential buildings and public facilities in areas near the epicenter. Emergency officials were continuing to assess the full extent of the damage on Wednesday, and details from some affected districts remained unclear.
The strong shaking prompted residents in Palu and surrounding areas to flee buildings and gather in open spaces. Several hospitals evacuated patients outdoors as a precaution following the quake and a series of aftershocks, local authorities said.
“People are advised to remain alert for possible aftershocks and follow instructions from local authorities,” BMKG said in a statement.
Preliminary reports from disaster officials indicated that hundreds of residents were temporarily displaced. Damage was reported to homes, places of worship, government buildings and sections of road infrastructure, according to local authorities. Assessment teams and emergency responders were deployed to affected communities.
The quake was followed by numerous aftershocks, including several moderate tremors, according to seismic monitoring agencies. Authorities urged residents not to return to damaged structures until safety inspections had been completed.
Central Sulawesi remains vulnerable to seismic activity because Indonesia sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone of intense tectonic movement. The region is still remembered for the devastating 2018 earthquake and tsunami that struck Palu and surrounding areas, killing thousands of people.
As of Wednesday, emergency operations were continuing across affected districts. BNPB said officials were still collecting information from several locations, while rescue and assessment teams worked to determine whether additional casualties or damage had occurred. No tsunami warning was issued, and authorities said monitoring of aftershocks remained ongoing.
