Strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes northern Maluku Sea, Indonesia

A POWERFUL earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck the northern Maluku Sea in Indonesia at 9.35am today, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) reported.

According to a statement from MetMalaysia, the tremor occurred at a shallow depth of 11 kilometres and was located approximately 96 kilometres southeast of Bitung.

Authorities confirmed that the earthquake poses no tsunami threat to Malaysia.

This latest seismic event follows a more severe 7.4 magnitude earthquake that hit the North Maluku Sea off the coast of Ternate Island last Wednesday morning.

That earlier quake caused damage to several buildings and triggered tsunami waves, according to local authorities and eyewitness accounts. - April 4, 2026