JAKARTA, Indonesia — At least one person has been found dead and hundreds were evacuated after a major 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the remote Maluku islands in eastern Indonesia on Sunday, an official said. The shallow quake struck about 165 kilometers south-southwest of the town of Ternate in North Maluku province at 6:28 pm, according to the US Geological Survey. ADVERTISEMENTIn South Halmahera district, the closest area to the epicentre, around 160 houses collapsed when the shallow earthquake struck. North Maluku province was also hit by a 6.9-magnitude tremor last week but no extensive damage or casualties were reported. ADVERTISEMENTOn December 26, 2004, a devastating 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 across the Indian Ocean region, including around 170,000 in Indonesia.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 15, 2019 03:00 UTC