A 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s Papua province, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake occurred at 2.31 degrees south latitude and 138.86 degrees east longitude, approximately 200 kilometers from the city of Abepura. It was recorded at a depth of 70 kilometers (43.5 miles). Fortunately, there have been no reports of damage or casualties following the incident, and no tsunami warning has been issued.
This seismic event comes just a day after a stronger 7.4-magnitude earthquake impacted the southern coast of the Philippines, resulting in at least seven fatalities. In response to that quake, the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had issued a tsunami warning for parts of the Philippines’ southern Mindanao region and Indonesia’s North Sulawesi, although it was later lifted. The Philippine earthquake was centered at sea, roughly 43 kilometers east of the town of Manay, and reportedly caused damage to infrastructure, including cracks in the Davao International Airport, which remained operational.
Jun Saavedra, a disaster-mitigation officer in Davao Oriental, described the scene during the tremor, stating, “I was driving my car when it suddenly swayed, and I saw power lines swaying wildly. People darted out of houses and buildings as the ground shook, and electricity went off.”
While seismic activity can be alarming, this incident in Papua has thus far resulted in no reported emergencies, highlighting the importance of preparedness and resilience in regions prone to earthquakes. Authorities and communities continue to monitor the situation closely.