A strong earthquake measuring 6.7 magnitude struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Tanimbar Islands on Monday, July 14. The tremor was recorded at 12:49pm Western Indonesia Time, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The quake’s epicentre was located around 177 kilometers west of Tual city, in eastern Maluku province. It struck at a depth of approximately 66 kilometers, making it a moderately deep earthquake.
Indonesia’s geophysics agency quickly announced that the quake posed no tsunami threat. This was confirmed by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Officials also stated there were no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage.
Germany’s Centre for Georesearch (GEOFON) initially recorded the quake at a magnitude of 7. It was later revised to 6.7 after further analysis.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” — a zone of high seismic and volcanic activity. As a result, the country experiences frequent earthquakes, both large and small.
In recent years, Indonesia has suffered several devastating quakes. A 6.2-magnitude tremor in Sulawesi in January 2021 killed over 100 people. In 2018, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami struck Palu, killing more than 2,200.
The most catastrophic event in recent memory occurred in 2004. A magnitude-9.1 undersea earthquake near Aceh triggered a massive tsunami that killed over 170,000 people in Indonesia alone.
Despite the region’s seismic risks, today’s quake has not led to any emergency response. Authorities continue to monitor the situation.
Residents in Maluku and surrounding areas are urged to remain alert. While there is no immediate danger, aftershocks are always a possibility following a major seismic event.
Officials stress that public safety remains the top priority. Emergency services are on standby, but no action has been required so far.
