6.2-Magnitude Quake Jolts Sulawesi; No Tsunami Warning

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck offshore of Indonesia’s Sulawesi island on Wednesday, November 5, authorities reported. The tremor occurred at sea and, according to Indonesia's geophysics agency, did not lead to a tsunami warning.

The event is the second notable seismic shock to affect the country this week. Days earlier, a 6.6-magnitude tremor was recorded in the Banda Sea near the Maluku Islands at an estimated depth of 137 kilometres. Officials say neither of the two quakes produced tsunami risk.

Indonesia sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a belt of active faults and volcanoes, and occupies the meeting point of several major tectonic plates. This geological position makes the archipelago especially susceptible to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

With a population exceeding 270 million spread across thousands of islands, Indonesia has experienced deadly seismic disasters in recent decades. In January 2021 a 6.2-magnitude quake struck Sulawesi, causing more than 100 deaths and displacing many people. In 2018 a 7.5-magnitude earthquake accompanied by a tsunami devastated Palu, killing over 2,200. The region's deadliest recent event was the 2004 9.1-magnitude quake off Aceh, which triggered a catastrophic tsunami that claimed more than 170,000 lives in Indonesia alone.

Wednesday's quake did not appear to cause widespread destruction, but it underscores the area's ongoing exposure to seismic hazards. Authorities continue to monitor for aftershocks and have urged residents to remain cautious in the coming days.