7.4 magnitude earthquake hits Indonesia

One person was killed on Thursday after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia.The earthquake, centered in the Molucca Sea at a depth of 35 kilometers (22 miles), was recorded by the US Geological Survey.The tremors were felt strongly in and around Manado, North Sulawesi. “The quake was felt strongly around Manado. One person died and another suffered a leg injury,” said search and rescue official George Leo Mercy Randang to AFP.Tsunami waves were also detected at several monitoring stations. In Bitung, waves reached 20 centimeters, while in West Halmahera, they measured 30 centimeters, according to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu reported that waves of 5 centimeters were recorded in Davao in the southern Philippines.Tsunami alert issued after the quake was later lifted later. “Based on all available data, the tsunami threat from this earthquake has now passed,” the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. However, Disaster Management Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement: “At this stage, caution is still required, particularly for communities living along the coast.”He also urged residents not to return to beaches or coastal areas until authorities issue an official all-clear.Indonesia, an archipelago of over 280 million people, lies on major seismic faults and is regularly struck by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.