A STRONG earthquake shook waters off the coast of Indonesia’s Talaud Islands on Saturday, prompting concern among residents in parts of northern Sulawesi but triggering no tsunami warning, according to monitoring agencies.
Reuters cited the German Research Centre for Geosciences stating that the quake measured magnitude 6.8 and occurred at a depth of 77 kilometres beneath the seabed.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), however, recorded a stronger magnitude of 7.1 at a shallower depth of 17 kilometres. The agency also detected several subsequent tremors following the main quake.
BMKG said the series of earthquakes did not have the potential to generate tsunami waves.
Residents in Manado, located on the northern tip of Sulawesi island, reported feeling strong shaking, although there were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.
Indonesia lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity formed by the interaction of several tectonic plates, where earthquakes are a frequent occurrence. - January 11, 2026
