Tsunami Alert After Massive Earthquake of 7.5 Magnitude Hits Indonesia

Authorities issued a tsunami alert after an enormous earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale struck Indonesia’s Maluku province on Tuesday.

The tremors occurred at 12.47 am. Its epicenter was located 148 km northwest of Maluku Tenggara Barat (Kepulauan Tanimbar) district at a depth of 131 km under the seabed.

Around 2,000 Maluku inhabitants were evacuated to higher places due to fear of a tsunami. The tsunami alert has been issued for Maluku and the nearby province of Southeast Sulawesi.

Several houses and buildings were damaged due to the earthquake. There were no preliminary reports of injuries or deaths.

On December 26, 2004 Indonesia was hit by an Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. It claimed the lives of around 227,898 people in 14 countries. Indonesia reported the highest number of deaths at 130,736.