Magnitude 7.4 earthquake hits Indonesia

Kathmandu. An earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Indonesia’s Maluku Strait on Thursday. So far, one person has been confirmed dead and several others have been injured in the earthquake.

The quake damaged several buildings in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province. According to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), the quake occurred at 06:48 a.m. local time. The epicenter of the quake was at a depth of 30 kilometers.

At the time of the earthquake, there was a horrific scene outside a private hospital called Silom in Manado. Cracks have developed in the hospital building due to a few seconds of intense shaking.

Patients and health workers were immediately evacuated to the streets.

Some patients were taken to a safe place outside the ward with IV and drip and some were kept in hospital beds. Debris fell from the building crushed a parked car, shattering its window panes.

Billy Lombok, a relative of one of the patients, said, “Some were sleeping when the quake hit, some were resting after undergoing surgery. The quake has damaged the ceiling of the hospital and large cracks have appeared in the walls. ’

Immediately after the earthquake, Indonesian authorities issued a tsunami warning. However, the warning was later withdrawn after there was no major change in sea level or danger.

Rescue operations are underway in the affected areas and the injured have been taken to various hospitals for treatment.