A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province on Tuesday, shaking the Palu area and sending residents and hospital patients into open spaces as authorities assessed injuries, structural damage, and the risk from aftershocks. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency, known as BMKG, said the earthquake hit at 11:27 a.m. local time, with an epicenter about 42 kilometers southeast of Palu and a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers, according to Reuters.
BMKG said the quake did not pose a tsunami risk. The Associated Press reported that at least eight people were injured in Sigi, including two with serious injuries, while several hospitals moved patients outside as a safety measure. The quake hit a region still shaped by the 2018 Central Sulawesi disaster, when a 7.5-magnitude earthquake triggered tsunamis and liquefaction around Palu Bay, killing more than 4,400 people.
Hospitals Move Patients Outside As Damage Reports Come In
In Palu and nearby districts, the immediate concern shifted quickly from the quake’s strength to the safety of people inside homes, hospitals, and public buildings. Residents fled into open areas during the shaking, including in Palu, a Central Sulawesi city of about 400,000 people. Several hospitals also moved patients outdoors, including some who were still connected to IV drips, as staff worked to keep them away from buildings vulnerable to aftershocks.
At Samaritan Hospital in Palu, patients and visitors gathered in open areas inside the hospital complex. The quake was also felt in Sigi, Donggala, and Tojo Una-Una districts, widening the area emergency officials needed to assess. Damage reports were still developing on Tuesday. The Associated Press reported scattered damage, including partially collapsed roofs on buildings, broken walls, and debris in the streets. Authorities had not completed assessments in three regencies near the epicenter, where the combined population is about 1.2 million.
Aftershocks also added to the concern. ANTARA noted that the United States Geological Survey detected a 5.2-magnitude aftershock east-southeast of Palu about three minutes after the main tremor. Officials told residents to avoid damaged buildings and wait for inspections before returning to unsafe structures.
Emergency Teams Prepare Shelters, Medical Tents, And Building Inspections
Central Sulawesi Governor Anwar Hafid ordered emergency response measures after the earthquake and directed disaster agencies, medical teams, and local officials to assist affected communities. Hospitals and healthcare facilities were told to prepare for possible casualties and post-earthquake medical needs.
The provincial government also instructed hospitals to prepare emergency medical tents in open areas. Per ANTARA, officials said temporary shelters would be arranged for residents who could not safely return home. Technical teams were also assigned to inspect damaged buildings before they reopened to the public.
The emergency response is unfolding in a city that still carries the memory of one of Indonesia’s deadliest recent disasters. In September 2018, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Central Sulawesi and triggered three near-field tsunamis that reached settlements along Palu Bay within minutes. The same disaster caused landslides and liquefaction in densely populated parts of Palu and Sigi, turning the area into a major recovery zone. More than 4,400 people were killed, about 170,000 people were displaced, and economic losses topped $1.3 billion.
Indonesia regularly experiences strong earthquakes due to complex tectonic activity across the region. The U.S. Geological Survey has noted that high seismicity in eastern Indonesia is linked to the interaction of several tectonic plates. Officials said residents should continue to follow official information as emergency crews assess damage, support affected communities, and monitor aftershocks.
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