JAKARTA, Feb 26 (V7N) — A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck offshore near Indonesia’s Sulawesi island early Wednesday, forcing residents to flee in panic but causing no reported damage or casualties, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake hit at 6:55 AM local time (2255 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) near North Sulawesi province. Indonesia’s meteorological agency measured the quake at 6.0 magnitude and confirmed no tsunami threat.

Residents in North Sulawesi described the fear as buildings shook violently. "It was strong, swaying from side to side," said Gita Waloni, a hotel guest in North Minahasa district. "I ran out immediately. I was afraid of aftershocks while inside the lift."

Indonesia, located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", experiences frequent earthquakes due to tectonic plate collisions. In 2021, a 6.2-magnitude quake in Sulawesi killed over 100 people, and in 2018, a 7.5-magnitude quake and tsunami in Palu claimed more than 2,200 lives. The 2004 Aceh earthquake, at 9.1 magnitude, triggered a tsunami that killed 170,000 Indonesians and 230,000 people across the region.

Authorities are monitoring the situation, but no major aftershocks have been reported so far.

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