PALU, Indonesia — A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Central Sulawesi province on Tuesday, killing at least one person, injuring dozens, and damaging hundreds of buildings, authorities reported.
The quake hit at 10:27 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located approximately 42 kilometers southeast of Palu city at a depth of 10 kilometers. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) classified it as a shallow earthquake triggered by activity on the Sausu Fault.
The strong shaking sent residents fleeing into open areas in and around Palu, a city of about 400,000 people. Several hospitals evacuated patients, some with IV drips, outdoors as a safety measure. Four regencies close to the epicenter — with a combined population of 1.3 million — have yet to be fully assessed.
Casualties and Damage
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported one fatality, a resident of Ampera Village in Sigi District. As of Wednesday morning, authorities said over 70 people had been injured.
Preliminary data from the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Central Sulawesi showed widespread damage across several districts. The heaviest damage was recorded in Sigi district, where 800 houses were affected — 720 with minor damage, 68 with moderate damage, and 12 severely damaged or collapsed. In Parigi Moutong district, 37 houses were damaged, while Palu City and Poso district reported one and three damaged houses respectively.
Beyond residential structures, the earthquake also damaged two offices, 15 places of worship, one business facility, and a bridge connecting Kamarora B Village and Tongoa Village. A section of the provincial road linking Palu with Sigi and Poso was cut, hampering access to affected areas.
Aftershocks and Tsunami Confirmation
BMKG recorded 466 aftershocks as of 8:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday, with the strongest reaching magnitude 5.2. The agency confirmed there was no tsunami threat, as the tremor occurred on land.
Regional Context
Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions frequently occur. The region remains haunted by the magnitude 7.5 earthquake that devastated Palu in 2018, triggering a 3-meter-high tsunami and a liquefaction phenomenon that killed more than 4,000 people.
Officials said they would continue monitoring for aftershocks and urged residents to remain calm and vigilant.