Indonesia: Magnitude-5.1 offshore earthquake occurs in Molucca Sea at around 01:29 WIT May 1

Event

A magnitude-5.1 offshore earthquake occurred in the Molucca Sea off of Indonesia's North Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces at around 01:29 WIT May 1. The epicenter was approximately 131 km (81 miles) east of Bitung. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 28 km (17 miles), and weak-to-light shaking was probably felt throughout the nearby provinces. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure near the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.