6.7-magnitude earthquake shakes Indonesia's Sulawesi, scattering damage but no casualties reported

The earthquake

A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck near Palu in Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province on Tuesday at 11:27 local time. The United States Geological Survey placed the epicentre between 42 and 47 kilometres east-southeast of the city, while depth estimates ranged from 10 to 18 kilometres. Indonesia's geophysics agency BMKG said there was no tsunami risk. The tremor was followed by a series of aftershocks, the strongest of which measured 5.2.

Damage and response

Authorities described "scattered damage" in Palu, a city of around 400,000 residents. Images from the area showed partly collapsed roofs, broken walls, and debris in streets. Hospitals evacuated patients as a precaution, some still connected to IV drips. No official reports of casualties had been released by midday, though damage assessments were ongoing.

Seismic background

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a belt of intense seismic and volcanic activity where around 7,000 earthquakes are recorded annually. The Palu region remains scarred by a 7.5 magnitude quake and subsequent tsunami in September 2018 that killed over 4,000 people. A 6.2 magnitude tremor near Mamuju in January 2021 claimed more than 100 lives, and a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in the Molucca Sea in April 2026 triggered a tsunami alert for northern Sulawesi and the southern Philippines.

Aftershocks

At least three notable aftershocks followed the main shock, measuring 5.2, 5.0, and 4.9 in magnitude. Residents remained wary of further tremors; after the 2021 Mamuju quake, thousands slept outdoors for days due to aftershock fears.