Tsunami alert as huge 7.4-magnitude quake strikes off of Indonesia
- 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck 83 miles northwest of the Moluccas Thursday
- The quake measured 39 miles deep under the sea sparking a tsunami alerts
- It sent panicked resident fleeing to higher ground at around 11pm local time
- Despite it shaking buildings, the tsunami is estimated to reach only 20 inches
- In early July a 7.3-magnitude land-based quake caused chaos on the island
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake has struck 83 miles northwest of the city of Ternate in Indonesia, sending panicked residents fleeing to higher ground.
The quake was measured at 39 miles deep, the U.S. Geological Survey said, and struck at 11.17pm local time on Thursday.
Rahmat Triyono, of Indonesia's Meteorology, Climate and Geophysics Agency agency said: 'We issued the tsunami warning with an alert that any tsunami is estimated at only at a height of around 50cm (20 inches).'
Despite the low water level anticipated, houses shook violently on the neighbouring islands and residents were sent rushing in terror.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 has struck 83 miles northwest of Ternate, Moluccas, Indonesia , the U.S. Geological Survey said
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Indah Lengkong, a resident of port city of Bitung in North Sulawesi, said by text message: 'The house was visibly shaking.'
People in her neighbourhood had initially panicked, she said, adding: 'The quake was very strong and lasted for a while. We can still feel tremors but weaker.'
Twitter user @inritaehyungie, who lives in Tondano in North Sulawesi, also felt the quake strongly.
'The earth was literally shaking so hard,' she said.
Metro TV said some residents had fled to higher ground in the North Moluccas.
The city of Ternate, on the Moluccas, Indonesia. Panicked residents were sent fleeing to higher ground on Thursday night
'Most likely it (a tsunami) won't hit the land, but we still need to be on alert,' Rahmat Triyono, an official at Indonesia's geophysics agency, told Kompas TV. He said there had been no reports of damage so far.
In early July a 7.3-magnitude quake sparked panic on the Moluccas.
It was a land-based earthquake so there was no tsunami risk but it sent people rushing for cover as it rocked buildings in the city of Ternate.
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