A magnitude 6.3 earthquake strikes Papua, Indonesia, with no tsunami risk.
A 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Papua, Indonesia
A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale shook the Papua region in eastern Indonesia on Tuesday at 08:24 GMT, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, approximately 193 kilometers northwest of the city of Abepura.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center quickly allayed fears by confirming that no dangerous waves had been detected, thus eliminating any tsunami risk.
Indonesia, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is frequently subjected to intense seismic activity due to its tectonic setting.
This recent quake brings back painful memories of previous major seismic disasters in the country. In January 2021, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Sulawesi Island, resulting in over 100 fatalities and leaving thousands homeless. Three years prior, in 2018, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami devastated the city of Palu on the same island, claiming more than 2,200 lives.
The deadliest tragedy remains the 2004 disaster when a 9.1 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Aceh province generated a catastrophic tsunami, resulting in over 170,000 deaths in Indonesia alone.
