A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck Indonesia on Tuesday morning, as reported by the National Centre for Seismology (NCS). The tremor occurred at 08:57 AM local time at a depth of 45 kilometers, with its epicenter located at coordinates 1.073° South latitude and 120.263° East longitude.
Residents Evacuate After Strong Tremor
Local media outlet Jakarta Globe reported that residents in Palu and parts of Central Sulawesi fled their homes following the earthquake. The tremor was strongly felt across several regencies, including Palu, Sigi, Donggala, and Tojo Una-Una.
As a precaution against possible aftershocks or tsunami risks, many people moved away from coastal areas. Authorities are currently assessing the impact, though no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage have been confirmed.
Second Major Earthquake in Southeast Asia This Month
This earthquake marks the second significant seismic event in Southeast Asia during June 2026. Earlier, on June 8, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the Philippines, according to the NCS.
The NCS shared details of the Indonesian earthquake on social media platform X, stating: "EQ of M: 6.8, On: 16/06/2026 08:57:49 IST, Lat: 1.073 S, Long: 120.263 E, Depth: 45 Km, Location: Indonesia."
Local authorities continue to monitor the situation and urge residents to remain vigilant for potential aftershocks.
